Aftershock(Inequality for All--Movie Tie-in Edition)

I thought the book was very informative. I had imagined that it would be somewhat "preaching to the choir," but there was a lot that I learned. I read it for a book club, and believe we are going to see the movie it is associated with as well.

I found this book very interesting. It was obvious that the author is very left wing and his solution to the economic crisis is less money to the rich and more to the middle class. He states this over and over in the book.

very good. The president of the U.S. should read this book. It is short and easy to read and understand. It is packed full of common sense that we all know, but never could put it together in one place. Robert put it in one place for us very busy people read. I hilighted a lot, and tagged pages so I could go back and read it again.

Borrowed this book from a friend, then went and bought a copy for myself and another for my father. This author will totally change your outlook on the economic debate currently happening in this country. I don't understand why Robert Reich is not getting more attention.

[Update: Went to an event where he spoke to Commonwealth Club. Very eloquent speaker; self-deprecating, funny. Glad I went to listen; I really learned things.]
Great book. Reich is incredible; he really is trying to help the middle class understand what the 1% are doing.

Borrowed this book from a friend, then went and bought a copy for myself and another for my father. This author will totally change your outlook on the economic debate currently happening in this country. I don't understand why Robert Reich is not getting more attention.

[Update: Went to an event where he spoke to Commonwealth Club. Very eloquent speaker; self-deprecating, funny. Glad I went to listen; I really learned things.]
Great book. Reich is incredible; he really is trying to help the middle class understand what the 1% are doing.

Good Job Mr. Reich! Basically he is saying the following - the biggest problem that world faces today - Inequality! Sooner or later we will be moving toward socialism (don't be scared America :) socialism is a good thing) and a strong middle class. That is the only recipe for a stable country - economically and politically. We JUST :) have to get rid of all this money in politics and have real freedom of speech. Good read.

Really enjoyed reading this book. Whether or not one agrees with everything he says, I think every person who cares to understand the true causes of the economic meltdown should at least read his perspective on it.

Good trove of qualifying information and convincing argument for change, but must keep in mind the book's goal of persuading the reader of the validity of the author's plans to
correct everything.

Robert Reich offers information that is normally not so comprehensively articulated in the mainstream media. And it's about time someone tells this story. As the gap between the wealthy and the middle class and working poor continues to widen, perhaps this will serve and the source for courage for progressives to be stronger voiced in these critical issues before America is left to a fate of a third world existence.

This easy-to-read book by the former Secretary of Labor makes a compelling case that the rich are indeed getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. He also argues--with plenty of well-cited facts--that this economic inequality only serves to bring the entire economy down. A must-read for anyone who wants to understand the issue--and especially for anyone who still believes in the "Trickle Down Theory."

Good thoughts for the future and the idea that we need to bolster the middle income
in the USA. We could become a third world country if we continue to have a small percentage
of the wealthy earning the most money and paying less taxes.

I have learned to expect with Reich's writings, this book is timely, does not waste words, and calls it as he sees it. I have been worried about how our economy is going, and Reich seems to be worried about the same discrepancies such as the increasing gap between the super rich and the rest of us. Not only that, he has ideas about how to fix this frightening problem. AFTERSHOCK IS WELL WORTH THE PRICE for a paperback.

Robert Reich analyzes the aftermath of all the financial damage caused by the 2007 market crash,and the on-going effects of this economic disaster in easily read terms for the layman to comprehend.

If you seek detailed econometrics,understanding of derivatives,or Chaos Theory analysis, then this is not the book for you....better to seek out Eccles or Einstein or Mandelbrot. Mr Reich does a great job in over sighting many of the economic problems that resulted from the calamity, so that it is comprehensible, easy to read, and when finished, you will feel educated on the matter.

I have been looking at the problems of the economy for sometime now, trying to get an overall grasp of the problem. This book pulled it all together for me. It is a must read for everyone on the middle class.

Fascinating, but fatally flawed; although Reich is probably the most knowledgeable, candid and relevant observer of the Washington Insider Establishment, he is flawed in expecting any sudden major change.

In America, where a two-cent rise in postage stamps is cause for major outrage, "change" comes on little cat feet. It's the fatal flaw of Obamania with its brilliant rescues of Wall Street and Detroit auto makers plus reforms of health care and the financial industry; it's these revolutionary successes that have infuriated voters.

Gratitude? "Wail Street" cried all the way to the Treasury; then, like pigs with their snouts in the trough of public money, stampeded the farmer who just filled their feed bowl. In his final 'How It Could Get Done' chapter of five and one-half pages, Reich offers a rational but revolutionary plan to rescue the Middle Class from 30 years of stagnation.

It took 30 years for the "vested interests" with their Greed Is Enough mantra to vastly increase their share of American earnings and wealth. However, in America, revolution won't work; this is a society that trusts gradualism instead of upheaval. President Barack Obama failed this test of the American character; he expected a miracle from "Change" and instead got doubt, suspicion and fear.

So much for Reich's conclusion. The other 134 pages are a cogent analysis of America from the Great Depression to the Great Prosperity and downward into the current Great Recession. Only the Super Rich are liable to disagree, primarily because Reich explains how they are usually the problem and never part of the solution.

It's this analysis that makes this book so worthwhile. Granted, Reich cites more than the Super Rich -- even they aren't astute enough to cause all problems -- but the first step toward a solution is understanding the origins of the problem. Instead of rants and raves about the current mess, Reich offers a succinct and practical analysis.

But then,who listens to intelligence instead of emotion in politics?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this well constructed, engaging book. The language is accessible to any thoughtful, educated adult. Of course, almost half the population won't be interested in it, anyway.

I loved this book- a well-reasoned and clearly presented explanation of what ails American society and its economy. Using understandable prose it helped me understand why the middle class is so vital to economic growth and health. Great read about what could be a dull topic.

The issues that Reich raises are very real and totally ignored in public debate (for the most part). Although they may seem similar at first, the fundamental issues that he addresses are those that are not often considered. His foresight is amazing as I can see many of these trends emerging (especially the right going off the deep end). However, I must say that I'm not fully aligned with his reform plan, although I think much of it would be very interesting to investigate. All in all, AMAZING book, couldn't put it down.

Good read. It was initially purchased for class. It brings to light many issues between the rich and the middle through the recent decades. Ignores the lower class, but that's a whole problem on it's own, I guess.

Very timely, easy to understand, the truth that everyone needs to know but is not so easy to discover. I finally have an understanding of what is happening to out economy. I continue to hear that our economy is recovering and there is no inflation requiring cost of living increase in pay for all middle class. These people do not shop in the same grocery store that I do.

As always, Robert Reich pulls aside the curtain so that we can see how the game is rigged and who is pulling the levers. I used this book as an aide in teaching "The New Economics" to a group of Senior Citizens. Not only did I receive a sitting ovation, but several participants made known their intention to reconsider their affiliation with the Republican party. Enough said.

As advertised this is a very readable and lucid description of economics and solutions to our present predicament. However, Mr. Reich is a former Clinton cabinet member, and it shows through. Persuasive and creative as his solutions for our problems are, I don't think they will change the minds of any conservatives, much as I wish it would.The book is worth reading.

An excellent book. Robert Reich writing is to the point and easily understood. It is too bad more folks do not take what he has uncovered into consideration when voting for government office holders.

Reich presents great insight and supports his arguments with thorough resources. I believe this to be a great answer to all "supply siders" who believe that the answer to all economic problems is deregulation.

This book is very enlightening on the U.S. economy and its relationship with international business. If you want to better understand what has happened, the present status of the economy, and the possible improvement for the future, then this is the book for you. Well written and easily understood.

Reich does a great job of explaining why trickle down economics doesn't work and why wealth concentrated at the top is bad not only for the national economy, but the world economy as well. He identifies syntoms of a failing economy, half baked measures to address it and why they don't work long term, and he lays out actual solutions.

A very readable and interesting review of our economy, and what brought the US economy to the point it is today. This book helps to clarify what really has happened to our economy and why. Reich makes a good Rx of what could be done to help our economic future to be more equitable, by restoring the "basic bargain". I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to cut through all of the chatter on the "news" and have a better sense of what needs to be done to make a brighter future for us in the "middle class".

To understand what's really going on in our economy, this is a must read. No education in economics necessary. This book gives an amazingly clear explanation for why we're on the downslide and what really needs to shift. The special interest groups and self interest only well off people certainly wouldn't want the average people to be so informed.

Other reviewers have said it far better than I could, but this book really lays out an excellent case for why trickle down economics is destroying our country and what can be done about it. It boggles my mind why the progressives have not been using these arguments for the past 30 plus years.

This book as the one of Stiglitz explain the reasons for our actual desastrous economic situation. If only the politicians would read them and act accoring to the suggestions of the two experts. Our future looks very bad.

Prof. Reich clearly explains how we got into this economic mess and why we stay there... and what MUST be done...or else....the book is clearly written in plain English. One of the BEST books on the subject of the economy that I have ever read.
A College Professor (of Economics)