Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America

by Kurt Andersen
Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America cover
Good Books rating 4.31
Politics and Current Affairs
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  • ID: 5463
  • Added: 2025-10-23
  • Updated: 2025-12-31
  • ISBN: 9781473583689
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2020-08-27
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 4

Evil Geniuses delves into the hidden history of how, over the past half-century, a cabal of wealthy industrialists, business leaders, and right-wing economic radicals reshaped the American political economy. This group, largely operating out of the public eye, built a vast network of think tanks, academic institutions, and political organizations to transform politics, media, finance, and laws in their favor. They sold this remade system as a return to traditional American values, but in reality, it led to unchecked financial accumulation and political power for the super-rich./n/nIn this deeply researched and entertaining exposé, Kurt Andersen maps the intricate networks and dark truths that have controlled the nation, revealing how America arrived at its current state and what it might do to reclaim its progressive future. The book provides a comprehensive look at the cultural and economic shifts that have defined the last fifty years, offering a compelling narrative of how a few have profited at the expense of the many.

Reviews
Bookmarks Reviews · 2025-12-24
entertaining 4.50

The book is surprisingly entertaining and engaging, with the author's lively and humorous writing style making complex topics accessible. It provides a critical examination of the deliberate reengineering of American society and economy since the 1960s.

The reviewer found the book to be a surprisingly entertaining and engaging read, despite its heavy subject matter. The author's lively and humorous writing style makes complex topics accessible and engaging. The book provides a critical examination of how a confederacy of the rich and the right have deliberately reengineered American society and economy since the 1960s. The reviewer appreciates the thorough research and the insightful analysis presented in the book, making it a compelling read for those interested in understanding the current state of American politics and society.

Quick quotes

    The book is, perhaps counterintuitively, terrifically entertaining and engaging.

    Andersen is a lively and funny writer who has honed his voice through a long career in journalism and cultural commentary.

    Evil Geniuses chronicles the quite deliberate reengineering of our economy and society since the 1960s by a highly rational confederacy of the rich, the right, and the corporate world.

The New York Times · 2020-08-28
provocative 4.00

The book argues that America's political economy has been hijacked by capital over the past several decades. It provides a fresh and provocative history of this shift.

The reviewer highlights that the book offers a deeply researched and brilliantly woven cultural, economic, and political chronicle. They argue that Andersen's work is a fresh and provocative history that sheds light on how America's political economy has been hijacked by capital over the past several decades. The reviewer appreciates the book's ability to provide a new perspective on a complex issue.

Quick quotes

    In 'Evil Geniuses,' Kurt Andersen argues that, over the past several decades, America's political economy has been hijacked by capital.

    Andersen offers a fresh, provocative, and eye-opening history.

    The book provides a new perspective on a complex issue.

Daunt Books · 2020-08-28
entertaining 4.50

The book is described as a hugely entertaining and deeply researched cultural and economic expose. It maps the rich history of America's political economy.

The reviewer describes the book as a hugely entertaining and deeply researched cultural and economic expose. They appreciate how Andersen maps the rich history of America's political economy, providing a comprehensive and engaging narrative. The reviewer finds the book to be a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of America's political and economic landscape.

Quick quotes

    In this hugely entertaining and deeply researched cultural and economic expose, New York Times bestselling author Kurt Andersen maps the rich history of ...

    Andersen provides a comprehensive and engaging narrative.

    The book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of America's political and economic landscape.

Mal Warwick on Books · 2020-08-28
critical 4.25

The book dives into the history of a campaign and names the men who pandered to the backlash. It provides a critical examination of how the wealthy elite and corporations have shaped American society and politics.

The reviewer appreciates how the book dives into the history of a campaign and names the men who pandered to the backlash. They find the book to be a critical examination of how the wealthy elite and corporations have shaped American society and politics. The reviewer highlights the book's ability to provide a nuanced and insightful analysis of a complex issue.

Quick quotes

    In Evil Geniuses, author Kurt Andersen dives into the history of this campaign and names the names of the men—they were all men—who pandered to the backlash.

    He provides a critical examination of how the wealthy elite and corporations have shaped American society and politics.

    The book offers a nuanced and insightful analysis of a complex issue.

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