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4.6 out of 5 stars
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Requiem for the American Dream: The Principles of Concentrated Wealth and Power
Requiem for the American Dream: The Principles of Concentrated Wealth and Power
byNoam Chomsky
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974 total ratings, 199 with reviews
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From Australia
rumtytum
5.0 out of 5 stars Redefining Depression
Reviewed in Australia on 16 April 2019
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This book sets out cogently and accurately the dreadful state we're in. I wish it looked easier to repair that dreadful state, but the truth would seem to be that the greedy will inherit the earth they're wrecking.
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brian larsson
5.0 out of 5 stars Words of insight
Reviewed in Australia on 14 May 2019
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An author of world renown who calls out injustices and contempt for ordinary people by the controlling elites of our so-called democracies
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Peter
4.0 out of 5 stars His opinions - even if I did not agree with them all
Reviewed in Australia on 29 September 2022
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His opinions - even if I did not agree with them all
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yshoraka
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended
Reviewed in Australia on 26 June 2017
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This a very informative book, and it is recommended to everyone who is interested in understanding the era wherein we live.
The inclusion of excerpts from references at the end of each chapter has made the impact of arguments stronger.
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Tom
5.0 out of 5 stars Reading this book means you earned a PhD.
Reviewed in Australia on 19 November 2019
This is the best book you will ever need to understand what is really happening. It will open your eyes of knowledge. What you study at college is deceptive. But this book tells you the truth and reality.
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From other countries
Jeffrey Armstrong-Kavindra Rishi
5.0 out of 5 stars Chomsky"s Wake-up Call to the Loudly Snoring American Dream
Reviewed in Canada on 24 May 2017
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This very concise and important tour de force of US political history and process, is must reading for all participants around the world and especially in the US. It is concise, insightful, and surgically precise for leading the reader to an understanding of why Democracy runs off the rails when it does and for leading us back to whatever participatory role might be available to we who are not the 1%.
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ルンメ人間
5.0 out of 5 stars アメリカ民主主義の本質
Reviewed in Japan on 15 August 2018
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英語の教材として購入したのですが、内容がとても面白い。
筆者の深い洞察力で、アメリカ民主主義の暗黒面が明快に説明されており、とても興味深い。
4 people found this helpful
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Douglas Ribas de Mattos
5.0 out of 5 stars N/A
Reviewed in Brazil on 30 May 2024
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Devine
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book about the concentration of wealth and the impact it has on modern society.
Reviewed in the United States on 7 June 2017
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Excellent read that should appeal to all reading levels and offer insight into how American has evolved into a two class society ruled by plutocrats. He details the evolution of business and markets and the role our government plays in allowing a powerful few to rule the masses.
America has gone from being a manufacturing economy with small finance sector to being a finance economy with a small manufacturing base. One thing that has always boggled my mind is how people constantly vote against their own interests, especially on the right, but also on the left as well. Well Noam explains it very eloquently. The parties are dominated by special interest and business lobbies shape policy and our political talking points.
Which brings me to another point which he outlines very well. The current Republican party would not have been a party at all in 1971. They would be off either party’s charts in 1971. An extremists group that wouldn’t have even make a blip on the political radar. Nixon policies on the other hand, were far left of the modern Democrat.
Today we have a majority of Democrats that consider themselves centrists but would have been Republicans in 1971 by most policies. Call them Reagan Democrats or Rockefeller Republicans, but it’s resulted in policy paralysis for the working and poor and accelerated the wealth of the masters of society and business.
Noam keeps the paragraphs short, tries not to use too many 5 cent words, and assembled a lot of great observations and information in 10 short paragraphs. I have yet to watch the movie, but the book cut straight to the heart of the matter. He doesn’t pull any punches and he offers the straight scoop on wealth concentration, social imbalance and the impacts it has on our society.
The positive thing I take from the book is that this is a political problem, which means there is a political solution. The majority of Americans agree on a lot of principal matters that would result in a lot more prosperous healthy lives for the most of society. When things get this far out of balance, historically the public has pressured the governments and businesses to make concessions such as in the New Deal. It's up to us to organize and sustain grass roots pressure to shape policy.
We the people, can overcome the power of money but we need to act urgently and work together for grass roots change. Sustained pressure from a small but persistent and patient group of citizens. That’s what Noam emphasizes has resulted in the freedoms we have won in the past.
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J. Boyle
5.0 out of 5 stars An important analysis of the USA from its beginning to today.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 November 2022
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Some people won't like this analysis, but Chomsky gives you all the sources to allow you to check what his arguments are based on. An important book for anyone who believes in democracy.
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