What is *Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America* about?

*Evil Geniuses* analyzes how conservative elites orchestrated America’s economic transformation since the 1970s, dismantling progressive policies to favor corporations and the wealthy. Kurt Andersen traces the rise of neoliberal ideologies, deregulation, and financialization, arguing these shifts created extreme inequality and eroded middle-class stability. The book exposes coordinated efforts by think tanks, politicians, and business leaders to reshape laws and public opinion for profit-driven agendas.

Who should read *Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America*?

This book suits readers interested in political economy, modern U.S. history, or systemic inequality. Policymakers, activists, and students of capitalism will find its critique of corporate power and right-wing strategizing particularly relevant. Andersen’s blend of historical analysis and cultural commentary also appeals to general audiences seeking to understand today’s polarized climate.

Is *Evil Geniuses* worth reading?

Yes—Andersen’s sharp, evidence-backed narrative connects decades of policy changes to present-day crises like wage stagnation and political extremism. Critics praise its accessible synthesis of complex topics, though some argue it oversimplifies liberalism’s decline. For those seeking a roadmap of America’s economic unravelling, it’s a compelling primer.

What are the main ideas in *Evil Geniuses*?

- **Economic counter-revolution**: Right-wing intellectuals and business leaders systematically rolled back New Deal-era regulations. - **Financialization**: Wall Street’s dominance redirected wealth upward through leveraged buyouts and stock buybacks. - **Nostalgia exploitation**: Conservatives weaponized idealized pasts to justify deregulation and tax cuts. - **Liberal complacency**: Progressives underestimated organized opposition, enabling conservative victories.

Who does Kurt Andersen blame for America’s economic inequality?

Andersen identifies “evil geniuses” like economist Milton Friedman, Koch brothers-funded think tanks, and Reagan-era policymakers. These actors promoted shareholder capitalism, anti-union policies, and tax loopholes that concentrated wealth. Corporate lobbyists and media figures who normalized greed-as-virtue also bear responsibility.

How does *Evil Geniuses* explain the 1980s’ impact on today’s economy?

The 1980s cemented supply-side economics, slashing top tax rates from 70% to 28% and unleashing Wall Street speculation. Policies like deregulation and anti-union measures prioritized short-term profits over worker welfare, creating today’s gig economy and vanishing pensions. Andersen argues this era’s “winner-take-all” ethos still dictates economic policy.

What historical events does Andersen link to America’s decline?

- **1970s stagflation**: Used to justify dismantling Keynesian economics. - **Reagan’s presidency**: Accelerated tax cuts and union busting. - **Citizens United (2010)**: Enabled unchecked corporate political spending. - **2008 financial crisis**: Revealed consequences of deregulated markets.

How does *Evil Geniuses* critique modern capitalism?

Andersen condemns “hyper-selfishness” in business practices, from union suppression to environmental deregulation. He highlights how shareholder primacy—prioritizing stock prices over employee welfare—hollowed out industries and communities. The book argues this model fuels inequality and threatens democracy.

Evil Geniuses Summary, PDF, EPUB, Audio

Evil Geniuses

Kurt Andersen

4.21 (3570 Reviews)

Economics Politics History

Обзор

Ключевые Выводы

Автор

Часто Задаваемые Вопросы

Kurt Andersen's "Evil Geniuses" exposes how wealthy elites deliberately dismantled America's middle class since the 1970s. Praised by Alec Baldwin and featured across major media, this bestseller reveals the shocking blueprint behind our growing inequality - a must-read for understanding who hijacked your economic future.

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Evil Geniuses — это не просто книга, это мастер-класс по теме Economics. Чтобы помочь вам усвоить уроки наиболее удобным способом, мы предлагаем пять уникальных режимов обучения. Независимо от того, глубоко ли вы мыслите, быстро учитесь или любите истории, для вас найдётся подходящий режим.

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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

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"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

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201

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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

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1.5K Ratings4.7

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Evil Geniuses

Kurt Andersen

4.21 (3570 Reviews)

Economics Politics History

Обзор

Ключевые Выводы

Автор

Часто Задаваемые Вопросы

Исследуйте Свой Способ Обучения

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Почувствуйте книгу через голос автора

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Карточки8 идей

Захватите ключевые идеи мгновенно для быстрого обучения

Развлекательно26мин

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Лучшая цитата из «Evil Geniuses»

The obstacle is the way.

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When America Made a U-Turn Nobody Noticed

00:00

Something fundamental broke in America around 1980, and most of us missed it happening in real time. For three decades after World War II, when workers became more productive, they earned more money-simple as that. A factory worker could buy a house, support a family, and retire with dignity. Then the rules changed. Productivity kept climbing, corporate profits soared, but paychecks flatlined. The average CEO went from earning 20 times what their workers made to over 300 times as much. This wasn't an accident or natural evolution-it was engineered. A 1971 memo from future Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell warned that American business faced an "existential threat" and needed to fight back aggressively. Wealthy heirs and corporate leaders took this seriously, methodically funding think tanks, reshaping legal theory, and rewriting the social contract that had created the largest middle class in history. The 1970s brought inflation, oil shocks, and cultural exhaustion after the turbulent 60s. Americans felt overwhelmed by rapid change and increasingly receptive to promises of stability through lower taxes and less regulation. Business leaders, feeling besieged by new environmental and safety rules, organized with unprecedented coordination. In 1973, CEOs of America's largest corporations formed the Business Roundtable, requiring personal CEO participation in lobbying-no more delegating to underlings. This wasn't your grandfather's Chamber of Commerce; this was a precision instrument for reshaping policy. The shift in public opinion was dramatic. By 1978, 58% of Americans believed government had gone too far in regulating business, up from 42% a decade earlier.

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Создано выпускниками Колумбийского университета в Сан-Франциско

BeFreed объединяет глобальное сообщество из 1,000,000+ любознательных умов

Узнайте больше о том, как обсуждают BeFreed в интернете

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

Создано выпускниками Колумбийского университета в Сан-Франциско

BeFreed объединяет глобальное сообщество из 1,000,000+ любознательных умов

Узнайте больше о том, как обсуждают BeFreed в интернете

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."

@Moemenn

"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA

117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw

"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum

108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC

254

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful

4.5K

"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP

"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon

201

"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke

"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn

483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu

1.5K Ratings4.7

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Evil Geniuses by Kurt Andersen Summary

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Similar books to Evil Geniuses

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Похожее

Ключевые выводы

When America Made a U-Turn Nobody Noticed

The Golden Age We Forgot We Had

Reagan's Revolution and the Courtroom Coup

When Finance Ate Everything

The Day Paychecks Stopped Growing

The Hidden Consensus for Change

Reclaiming the America We Built Together

Режим Краткое резюме - Прочитайте или прослушайте краткое содержание Evil Geniuses за 10 минут

Режим Карточки - Топ-8 идей из Evil Geniuses кратко

Режим Развлекательно - Уроки из Evil Geniuses в 26-минутных историях

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Скачать Evil Geniuses PDF

Скачать Evil Geniuses EPUB

Похожее

Ключевые выводы

When America Made a U-Turn Nobody Noticed

The Golden Age We Forgot We Had

Reagan's Revolution and the Courtroom Coup

When Finance Ate Everything

The Day Paychecks Stopped Growing

The Hidden Consensus for Change

Reclaiming the America We Built Together