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Revolt of the Rich: How the Politics of the 1970s Widened America's Class Divide
392 pages, Hardcover
Published June 18, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 16, 2025
I wanted to like this book.
I’m still not clear that the writer fully understands basic economics. I don’t mean that as an insult but there are simply far too many areas that are a blend of historical commentary, personal bias, and unfortunately flawed views on economics.
I enjoyed the historical aspect. While I don’t agree with much of the personal views, I respect them. My issue is that much of the views are positioned as fact and further diminished by economic fallacy.
I would pass.
I’m still not clear that the writer fully understands basic economics. I don’t mean that as an insult but there are simply far too many areas that are a blend of historical commentary, personal bias, and unfortunately flawed views on economics.
I enjoyed the historical aspect. While I don’t agree with much of the personal views, I respect them. My issue is that much of the views are positioned as fact and further diminished by economic fallacy.
I would pass.
March 13, 2024
Gibbs book fills a void in 1970s history, which is steadily gaining more attention. Not only did politics start shifting to the right, but the decade's policies laid the groundwork for increasing income inequality. Something that is often attributed to Reagan, Gibbs makes the case that presidents and policies enacted during the prior decade really were to blame.
It be clear, this was not the intended purpose of government actions at the time; a lot was the result of deregulation and conservative shifts during the latter years of the decade (the Carter presidency in particular). Rather than use the book to outright condemn certain political beliefs and philosophies, Gibbs instead focuses on the impact of the legislation and decisions made at the time.
There would be no 1980s without the 1970s. We often think about the 1980s as the "Greed is Good" decade and the impact that Reagan's political agenda had on the country. This book argues that what truly starts this is not the "Morning in America" feeling brought on by Reagan but the policies made before him, and that which he doubled down upon.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding where the argument about the 1% comes from, who may be interested in economic history, or the 1970s in general
It be clear, this was not the intended purpose of government actions at the time; a lot was the result of deregulation and conservative shifts during the latter years of the decade (the Carter presidency in particular). Rather than use the book to outright condemn certain political beliefs and philosophies, Gibbs instead focuses on the impact of the legislation and decisions made at the time.
There would be no 1980s without the 1970s. We often think about the 1980s as the "Greed is Good" decade and the impact that Reagan's political agenda had on the country. This book argues that what truly starts this is not the "Morning in America" feeling brought on by Reagan but the policies made before him, and that which he doubled down upon.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in understanding where the argument about the 1% comes from, who may be interested in economic history, or the 1970s in general
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews