In 'Requiem for the American Dream', Noam Chomsky, a towering intellectual, unveils the unsettling truths behind the erosion of the American Dream. Through a series of profound insights, he examines the concentration of wealth and power that has transformed democracy into a tool for the elite. Chomsky dissects the mechanisms of manipulation that maintain social inequality and promote apathy among the masses. This compelling narrative not only critiques the status quo but also challenges readers to reconsider their role in shaping the future. Prepare to question everything you thought you knew about America and its promises.
By Noam Chomsky
Published: 2017
"The overwhelming concentration of wealth and power in a few hands undermines democracy. It is essential to recognize that the future of our society depends on the engagement of its citizens in the struggle for justice and equality."
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! In his first major book on the subject of income inequality, Noam Chomsky skewers the fundamental tenets of neoliberalism and casts a clear, cold, patient eye on the economic facts of life. What are the ten principles of concentration of wealth and power at work in America today? They're simple enough: reduce democracy, shape ideology, redesign the economy, shift the burden onto the poor and middle classes, attack the solidarity of the people, let special interests run the regulators, engineer election results, use fear and the power of the state to keep the rabble in line, manufacture consent, marginalize the population. In Requiem for the American Dream, Chomsky devotes a chapter to each of these ten principles, and adds readings from some of the core texts that have influenced his thinking to bolster his argument. To create Requiem for the American Dream, Chomsky and his editors, the filmmakers Peter Hutchison, Kelly Nyks, and Jared P. Scott, spent countless hours together over the course of five years, from 2011 to 2016. After the release of the film version, Chomsky and the editors returned to the many hours of tape and transcript and created a document that included three times as much text as was used in the film. The book that has resulted is nonetheless arguably the most succinct and tightly woven of Chomsky's long career, a beautiful vessel--including old-fashioned ligatures in the typeface--in which to carry Chomsky's bold and uncompromising vision, his perspective on the economic reality and its impact on our political and moral well-being as a nation. "During the Great Depression, which I'm old enough to remember, it was bad–much worse subjectively than today. But there was a sense that we'll get out of this somehow, an expectation that things were going to get better . . ." —from Requiem for the American Dream
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“The overwhelming concentration of wealth and power in a few hands undermines democracy. It is essential to recognize that the future of our society depends on the engagement of its citizens in the struggle for justice and equality.”
Requiem for the American Dream
By Noam Chomsky
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Noam Chomsky is a world-renowned linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, historian, and social critic. Born on December 7, 1928, he has profoundly impacted multiple fields, particularly with his theory of transformational-generative grammar, which revolutionized modern linguistics. Chomsky's notable works include "Syntactic Structures," "Aspects of the Theory of Syntax," and "Language and Mind," as well as influential political texts like "Manufacturing Consent" and "Hegemony or Survival." His writing style is characterized by clarity, precision, and a commitment to addressing complex ideas in an accessible manner, often interweaving profound theoretical insights with a critical analysis of societal issues.
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