Tales of a New America [Paperback]

Robert B. Reich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 12, 1988

The Harvard political economist argues that Americans must rethink some important cultural myths and self-definitions if the U.S. is to retain its dominant role within the emerging global economy.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Japan's resurgent growth and unrest in the Third World signal the end of the United States' preeminent position as a world power. American conservatives bent on a rigid, militarist posture and liberals who preach altruism both have utterly failed to adapt to a changed reality. That is Reich's thesis, developed in chapters examining the corrosion of our cultural myths. While the Horatio Alger parable of "the little guy who makes good" is losing its inspirational hold in an economy of scarcity, America's fear and aggressiveness toward "them out there"be they Russians or Latinosseem to be intensifying. Reich ( The Next American Frontier urges cooperation among political factions as our only hope. He sounds like a conservative when he attacks government regulation, like a liberal when he argues that we should view welfare as public investment in our future. His contention that both the arms race with the Soviets and the trading race with Japan are sapping our economy is well worth considering.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

Reich ( The Next American Frontier ) proposes that America's political culture has been uniquely expressed in four parablesthe Mob at the Gates, the Triumphant Individual, the Benevolent Community, and the Rot at the Top. Both conservative and liberal interpretations of these tales divide people into "us" and "them." While the conservatives seek to impose discipline on "them" (e.g., the Soviet Union, Third World nations, Japan, poor people), liberals seek to conciliate "them." Reich urges, instead, expansion of the category of "us" through collective efforts involving reciprocal gain, obligation, and trust (e.g., efforts to increase the wealth of both developing nations and American workers). He sees a mythology embracing an expanded "us" and interdependence evolving, for implementation by new leadership. Recommended for academic and large public libraries. David Steiniche, Social Sciences Dept., Missouri Western State Coll., St. Joseph
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 290 pages
• Publisher: Vintage (February 12, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394757068
• ISBN-13: 978-0394757063
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,713,448 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent political science book, January 16, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Tales of A New America (Hardcover)

Reich wants America to consider a new intellectual framework for everything from interpersonal to economic to security dealings. This book is an elegantly written critique of contemporary American political mythology. It's searching, literate and right (in the right way that is).

1 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Liberal-schmiberal, January 20, 2000

By 

Antosh (Boston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tales of a New America (Paperback)

This brand of crazy is as short sighted as the rest of politics today. A more correct title would be "How To Ensure Americans Will Continue to Chase False Gods and Vote for a Government That Is Only Successfull at NOT Getting Anything Done". If you want to have lip-service paid to your ideals, read this book. If you really want to live in a better world, start reading Ayn Rand and Milton Friedman.