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Setting Sun: The End of US Economic Dominance
What do tattoos, obesity, and America’s shrinking attention span have to do with our growing national debt? In Setting Sun, Brandon Adams explores how cultural shifts are merely signals of economic decline poised to create a very painful period in American history. Adams effortlessly explains the ugly and complicated truth about the U.S. economy and explores the political, social, and economic conflicts rising from the decisions lawmakers and ordinary Americans make each day. How did we go from being the world’s largest creditor nation to being the world’s largest debtor nation? Why can’t we answer simple questions about out money supply? How large will psychological variables loom over our new economic reality? Adams answers all the questions you aren’t hearing the media ask and lawmakers won’t talk about.
138 pages, Paperback
First published February 14, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 30, 2013
I have just completed the book Setting Sun: The End of U.S. Economic Dominance by Brandon Adams and I have to say I found it to be very well written and informative. In my line of work, I have to read all the time.
Normally, I am reading dry, scholarly research papers, many of which are on economics. These reports go on and on and put the reader to sleep. Brandon Adams has managed to take that same type of work and make it interesting.
I am not going to tell you that you will be riveted to your seat and not able to put the book down. What I will say is that if you are looking for a clear, relatively easy to understand explanation of the economy and why we are where we are in the United States, this is a good book to read.
Brandon Adams does not bombard his readers with a lot of economic theory nor does he attempt to make conclusions that are off base or unsupported. This book is not a dry textbook kind of read, but very much like talking to a teacher who understands that students do not already know everything there is to know about the subject.
The reader will not need a collegiate dictionary handy to read this book. The author explains the few terms that are not easy to understand.
Throughout the book, the author explains his position on certain economic events of the past, why he believes things are the way they are now, and what could happen in the future.
To be fair to the reader, I can see that the author has not had to rely on Medicare to take care of medical expenses. If he had, he would know that Medicare does not provide a blank check to the elderly and disabled. In fact, it pays for very little and makes the patient jump through hoops to use it.
To answer a question he stated in the book, yes, Medicaid should pay for braces. It does not in all states. My daughter’s cardiologist insisted that she needed braces because proper dental care is essential in the health of the heart.
When we told other doctors that our daughter has Marfan’s syndrome, they would chuckle and say, “Who told you that?” When we told them the name of the doctor, invariably the response would be, “Well, he would know.” Simply put, braces are often an essential part of overall health.
If you are interested in the economy, even at a basic level, you should read Setting Sun: The End of U.S. Economic Dominance. It could very well aid you in understanding the economic situation today and help you see what is happening in the future.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author through his research assistant.. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa... : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”.
Normally, I am reading dry, scholarly research papers, many of which are on economics. These reports go on and on and put the reader to sleep. Brandon Adams has managed to take that same type of work and make it interesting.
I am not going to tell you that you will be riveted to your seat and not able to put the book down. What I will say is that if you are looking for a clear, relatively easy to understand explanation of the economy and why we are where we are in the United States, this is a good book to read.
Brandon Adams does not bombard his readers with a lot of economic theory nor does he attempt to make conclusions that are off base or unsupported. This book is not a dry textbook kind of read, but very much like talking to a teacher who understands that students do not already know everything there is to know about the subject.
The reader will not need a collegiate dictionary handy to read this book. The author explains the few terms that are not easy to understand.
Throughout the book, the author explains his position on certain economic events of the past, why he believes things are the way they are now, and what could happen in the future.
To be fair to the reader, I can see that the author has not had to rely on Medicare to take care of medical expenses. If he had, he would know that Medicare does not provide a blank check to the elderly and disabled. In fact, it pays for very little and makes the patient jump through hoops to use it.
To answer a question he stated in the book, yes, Medicaid should pay for braces. It does not in all states. My daughter’s cardiologist insisted that she needed braces because proper dental care is essential in the health of the heart.
When we told other doctors that our daughter has Marfan’s syndrome, they would chuckle and say, “Who told you that?” When we told them the name of the doctor, invariably the response would be, “Well, he would know.” Simply put, braces are often an essential part of overall health.
If you are interested in the economy, even at a basic level, you should read Setting Sun: The End of U.S. Economic Dominance. It could very well aid you in understanding the economic situation today and help you see what is happening in the future.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author through his research assistant.. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa... : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”.
May 27, 2013
I must confess, when reading the intro of Setting Sun, I almost panicked that I had picked up a political polemic disguised as an academic piece.
Happily my fears were unfounded, true Adams' introduction is somewhat terse, fiery and opinionated, however the overall book is well researched, balanced and insightful.
Typically when reading information dense material, I find myself restricted to only absorbing a chapter (or even a page) per day, lest my brain explodes. While I won't be able to complete any pop-quizzes I found myself devouring Setting Sun in a couple of nights.
Much of the book is based on short to medium term historical trends in economics, although Adams dabbles in a while sociology (not enough to offend though!) and overall is very bleak, albeit accurate.
What amazed me the most about this book, is that despite sometimes strong points of view, on potentially controversial subjects I never felt the author was shallowly pushing their own agenda at the cost of accuracy. As a typically left-leaning person, I learnt mass amounts both for and against my current views.
I recommend this book for people who can take it. I'm assuming that those who can't handle the truth about the economic situation are not the best audience for this book, but anyone interested in genuine wisdom should check this out. Please note that this book is about the END of dominance for the US, so don't expect much material on solutions.
Happily my fears were unfounded, true Adams' introduction is somewhat terse, fiery and opinionated, however the overall book is well researched, balanced and insightful.
Typically when reading information dense material, I find myself restricted to only absorbing a chapter (or even a page) per day, lest my brain explodes. While I won't be able to complete any pop-quizzes I found myself devouring Setting Sun in a couple of nights.
Much of the book is based on short to medium term historical trends in economics, although Adams dabbles in a while sociology (not enough to offend though!) and overall is very bleak, albeit accurate.
What amazed me the most about this book, is that despite sometimes strong points of view, on potentially controversial subjects I never felt the author was shallowly pushing their own agenda at the cost of accuracy. As a typically left-leaning person, I learnt mass amounts both for and against my current views.
I recommend this book for people who can take it. I'm assuming that those who can't handle the truth about the economic situation are not the best audience for this book, but anyone interested in genuine wisdom should check this out. Please note that this book is about the END of dominance for the US, so don't expect much material on solutions.
November 7, 2015
Reads like a stream of doom and gloom consciousness at times. That’s not to say the concerns are not unfounded, but just that given Adams' intersection as tournament poker player and behavioral economics Ph. D. he puts an inherent focus on odds that are at the edge of probability. He dials it back as he explains his position, but the writing approach of leading with the exaggerated is off-putting if you’re not already in agreement of the title thesis.
Compared to most economics as presented by the media and by political actors, Adams gets it right in gist. This is a pop-economics book make no mistake, but it’s one I’d recommend to at least familiarize oneself with the practical concerns out there - as a first in a long series of reading. Even if you’re familiar with some of the academic background material, I might still recommend it if only to provide greater context. For instance actual actuarial studies on Social Security tend to lay out the facts on demographics an shortfall only and tend to shy away from discussion about actual policy options. Most other disciplines tend to do the same, not venturing too far outside their respective fields. Policy lives in this gap, and that’s where this book tries to fill in - with its thesis that’s a bit dark.
Compared to most economics as presented by the media and by political actors, Adams gets it right in gist. This is a pop-economics book make no mistake, but it’s one I’d recommend to at least familiarize oneself with the practical concerns out there - as a first in a long series of reading. Even if you’re familiar with some of the academic background material, I might still recommend it if only to provide greater context. For instance actual actuarial studies on Social Security tend to lay out the facts on demographics an shortfall only and tend to shy away from discussion about actual policy options. Most other disciplines tend to do the same, not venturing too far outside their respective fields. Policy lives in this gap, and that’s where this book tries to fill in - with its thesis that’s a bit dark.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews