American Amnesia: How the War on Government Led Us to Forget What Made America Prosper

American Amnesia examines how the United States built unprecedented prosperity through a mixed economy that balanced free markets with strong government involvement. Authors Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson document the crucial role of public policy and government institutions in creating American economic success during the twentieth century. The book traces the evolution of anti-government ideology in American politics and its impact on public institutions since the 1970s. Through analysis of historical data and policy outcomes, the authors evaluate the effects of deregulation, tax policy changes, and reduced government investment in research, infrastructure, and education. Through case studies and economic evidence, American Amnesia challenges contemporary arguments against government involvement in markets and society. The work demonstrates how public-private partnerships drove innovation and growth in sectors from agriculture to technology. The central theme explores how societies can forget or misattribute the sources of their success, with consequences for policy choices and economic outcomes. This analysis raises questions about the relationship between collective memory, political narratives, and economic decision-making.

Readers consider this a data-driven examination of how government contributed to American prosperity. Many reviewers note its thorough research and historical examples showing the role of public-private partnerships. Liked: - Clear documentation of government's role in markets, innovation, and economic growth - Examples of successful government initiatives like research funding and infrastructure - Accessible writing style for complex economic concepts Disliked: - Some readers found it repetitive and longer than necessary - Critics say it downplays private sector contributions - Several note a partisan tone that undermines objectivity Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (346 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (128 ratings) Sample review: "Solid research but could have made the point in half the pages. Gets preachy at times." - Goodreads reviewer "Important perspective on public-private cooperation, though occasionally oversimplifies complex issues." - Amazon reviewer

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🔸 Despite focusing on government's positive role in prosperity, co-author Paul Pierson began his academic career skeptical of government intervention, having been influenced by Reagan-era conservative economic theories. 🔸 The book draws a direct link between the rise of antibiotics in the 1940s (enabled by government research) and a 50% drop in American deaths from infectious diseases between 1937 and 1952. 🔸 The authors reveal that 75% of the most important innovations between 1971 and 2006 were funded primarily by the U.S. government, including GPS, touch screens, and the Internet. 🔸 The mixed-economy model praised in the book was so successful that by 1970, 90% of American men could earn more than their fathers did - compared to only 50% of men today. 🔸 Co-authors Pierson and Hacker spent over three years collecting historical data to demonstrate that the highest periods of American economic growth coincided with the greatest government involvement in the economy.