“Offers the most plausible way to renovate our political and policy thinking to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century.”—Joe Klein, Time America is at a crossroads. The global economic downturn that began in 2008 has laid bare the structural weakness of our economy, putting the country through its most severe test since the Great Depression. Yet our political and business leaders have failed to prepare us because they are in the grip of a set of “dead ideas” about how a modern economy should work. Even the proponents of “change” in the Obama administration remain tentative in pushing the boundaries of the conventional wisdom. But as Matt Miller shows in this provocative and influential analysis, the American economy will turn the corner only if we move beyond these outdated ways of thinking and recognize the ascendance of a new set of “destined ideas” that will reinvigorate our economy, our politics, and our day-to-day lives. And in a new preface, Miller shows how today’s financial crisis has finally stripped these dead ideas of their power, offering hope for a durable recovery.
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"This book looks at how dead ideas perpetuate several large broken systems in the US. Miller looks at earnings, taxes, school finances, and global economics. It's somewhat refreshing and easy-to-follow (even when he talks about taxes). " — Kate (4 out of 5 stars)
"This book looks at how dead ideas perpetuate several large broken systems in the US. Miller looks at earnings, taxes, school finances, and global economics. It's somewhat refreshing and easy-to-follow (even when he talks about taxes). "
“If Fortune columnist Miller's eerily prophetic book had come out earlier, it could have served as a wake-up call for Wall Street leaders and Washington, DC lawmakers before the failure of several venerable financial institutions required government bailouts. The author's prescient observations make a persuasive case for how an American attitude of entitlement and outdated beliefs about government, education, taxes, business, corporate excess and health care threaten our national well-being and our position as a world leader.”
“Matt Miller writes and thinks with amazing clarity about some of the most difficult problems this country is facing. The Tyranny of Dead Ideas offers the most plausible way to renovate our political and policy thinking to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century—if we have the guts to go forward. This is must reading for the next president and for anyone who wants to be a creative citizen in a difficult time.”
“This book will make you the most valuable contributor to your next workplace discussion of politics or the economy. Matt Miller explains the history of ideas in a way that forces fresh insights about the future. I feel smarter already.”
“With crisp prose and compelling arguments, Matt Miller overturns orthodoxies left and right. Whatever your political persuasion, you will agree that The Tyranny of Dead Ideas is a tour de force—the rare book that can reshape the national agenda.”
“To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, our times are piled high with difficulty, and just as we must act anew we must think anew. Matt Miller is one of those few, invaluable voices who is able to reach beyond the truisms of yesterday to help us think anew about tomorrow. I warmly recommend his pathbreaking new book The Tyranny of Dead Ideas.”
“In The Tyranny of Dead Ideas, Matt Miller drives a bulldozer into the complacent conventional wisdoms of our society, including the desirability of free trade, of paternalistic corporations, and even of low taxes. You need not agree with every idea to be invigorated by Miller’s bold and original vision.”
" Interesting, and very well written. "
" Though it's a little dated because the Tea Party has taken over so much of politics, it's fascinating to see his take on the sacred cows of liberalism and conservatism. "
" Note to Matt Miller: if you think an idea is dead, don’t quote a poll in the first section that disproves your premise. Horrid, horrid book. "
" Fresh ideas, essential reading, unless of course you think everything is going along swell. Then just keep plodding toward that cliff and pay no attention to the man behind the curtain. "
" Not a great book. Just the same old socialist crap. I wish dickheads such as this would go ahead and admit what they want. His research is piss poor. Don't waste ur time. "
" I think it's an important read for anyone interested in fresh viewpoints to common problems. Loved the historical references as to why things are the way they are. "
" As long as you read it with the understand that it is not predictive as much as prescriptive after the fact, and does have a distinct ideology of it's own. "
Matt Miller is the author of The Two Percent Solution: Fixing America’s Problems in Ways Liberals and Conservatives Can Love, which was a Los Angeles Times bestseller. He is a contributing editor at Fortune, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, and a consultant to corporations, governments, and nonprofit organizations. He lives in Los Angeles.
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