J. Bradford DeLong
Born: June 24, 1960 – Boston, Massachusetts, United States
J. Bradford DeLong is an American economist and economic historian whose work focuses on macroeconomics, growth, finance, and modern economic history. A professor at the University of California, Berkeley, he is known for The Roaring Nineties and Slouching Towards Utopia, and for shaping public debate through influential policy writing and commentary.
Biography & Author's Journey
J. Bradford DeLong built his career at the intersection of scholarship, policy, and public argument. Trained at Harvard, where he earned his B.A. in 1982 and Ph.D. in 1987, he taught at MIT, Boston University, and Harvard before joining the University of California, Berkeley in 1993; he became a full professor there in 1997. The decisive early turning point came when he entered government as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy from 1993 to 1995, working on the Clinton administration’s budget and macroeconomic agenda, trade negotiations including the Uruguay Round and NAFTA, and the policy crises that shaped 1990s economic debate. ((https://vcresearch.berkeley.edu/faculty/j-bradford-delong))
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Popular Books
Slouching Towards Utopia
J. Bradford DeLong
An economic history exploring how unprecedented wealth failed to create utopia, revealing a century of progress and unfulfilled potential.
CONCRETE ECONOMICS: THE HAMILTON APPROACH TO ECONOMIC GROWTH AND POLICY
Stephen S. Cohen & J. Bradford DeLong
Reveals how pragmatic government policies shaped America's economic success, challenging ideological myths about free-market growth and offering historical insights.
Slouching Towards Utopia
J. Bradford DeLong
An economic history exploring how unprecedented wealth failed to create utopia, revealing a century of progress and unfulfilled potential.
CONCRETE ECONOMICS: THE HAMILTON APPROACH TO ECONOMIC GROWTH AND POLICY
Stephen S. Cohen & J. Bradford DeLong
Reveals how pragmatic government policies shaped America's economic success, challenging ideological myths about free-market growth and offering historical insights.
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Community Voices
"What a joy to finally have Brad DeLong's masterful interpretation of twentieth-century economic history down on paper"
— Christina Romer
"If you want to follow the conversation right now on global economic history, you should check out Brad DeLong's Slouching Towards Utopia"
— Adam Tooze
"If you are not an economist, the most likely place you've run across J. Bradford DeLong is his always-smart blog, Grasping Reality"
— Milken Institute Review
"Brad DeLong manages brilliantly to combine detailed analysis of a huge sweep of global history with an accessible and engaging narrative"
— Robert C. Allen
"Brad DeLong learnedly and grippingly tells the story"
— Thomas Piketty
"One of the most ambitious and admirable economic history books of the year... DeLong is a guide whose conclusions I cannot fault"
— Strategy+Business
"Brad DeLong puts together the puzzle of the past to tell a story of remarkable achievements as well as setbacks"
— Minouche Shafik
"Worries that the future will be worse than the present are an excellent reason to read Bradford DeLong's new book"
— Inside Higher Ed
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
