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The Big Myth

How American Business Taught Us to Loathe Government and Love the Free Market
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( 620 ratings, 116 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Big Myth by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway explores how a group of influential individuals and organizations promoted free-market fundamentalism in the 20th century, shaping modern economic and political thought. The authors detail the historical narratives and strategies used to foster widespread acceptance of market ideologies.
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Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might like this book if you are fascinated by the history of ideas, the origins of current ideologies, and enjoy thought-provoking narratives that delve into the influence of economic myths on modern society. This book offers a compelling exploration of how certain economic beliefs have shaped public policy and perception.

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The bestselling authors of Merchants of Doubt offer a profound, startling history of one of America's most tenacious--and destructive--false ideas: the "magic of the marketplace."

The bestselling authors of Merchants of Doubt offer a profound, startling history of one of America’s most tenacious--and destructive--false ideas: the “magic of the marketplace.”

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

"A carefully researched work of intellectual history, and an urgently needed political analysis." --Jane Mayer

“[A] scorching indictment of free market fundamentalism … and how we can change, before it’s too late.”—Esquire, Best Books of Winter 2023

The bestselling authors of Merchants of Doubt offer a profound, startling history of one of America’s most tenacious—and destructive—false ideas: the myth of the "free market."

In their bestselling book Merchants of Doubt, Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway revealed the origins of climate change denial. Now, they unfold the truth about another disastrous dogma: the “magic of the marketplace.”

In the early 20th century, business elites, trade associations, wealthy powerbrokers, and media allies set out to build a new American orthodoxy: down with “big government” and up with unfettered markets. With startling archival evidence, Oreskes and Conway document campaigns to rewrite textbooks, combat unions, and defend child labour. They detail the ploys that turned hardline economists Friedrich von Hayek and Milton Friedman into household names; recount the libertarian roots of the Little House on the Prairie books; and tune into the General Electric-sponsored TV show that beamed free-market doctrine to millions and launched Ronald Reagan’s political career.

By the 1970s, this propaganda was succeeding. Free market ideology would define the next half-century across Republican and Democratic administrations, giving us a housing crisis, the opioid scourge, climate destruction, and a baleful response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Only by understanding this history can we imagine a future where markets will serve, not stifle, democracy.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Big Myth, by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway, receives acclaim for its detailed and scholarly examination of market fundamentalism and its pervasive influence on American culture and politics. The book is praised for its rich research, compelling narrative, and its ability to blend intellectual history with urgent political analysis. Critics highlight the authors’ success in exposing the detrimental impacts of free market ideology and the need for government intervention to address major societal challenges.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781635573572

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 21 February 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 156.0mm

Height: 235.0mm

Weight: 938g

Pages: 576

About the Author

Naomi Oreskes is Professor of the History of Science at Harvard University. Her opinion pieces have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and many other outlets. Her TED talk, “Why We Should Trust Scientists,” was viewed more than a million times. Erik M. Conway is a historian of science and technology and works for the California Institute of Technology. He is the author of seven books and dozens of articles and essays.

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