It's OK to Be Angry About Capitalism is a 2023 book written by Bernie Sanders, a member of the United States Senate from Vermont, and edited by John Nichols, a journalist for The Nation. It was published by Crown Publishing Group, a subsidiary of Penguin Random House, on February 21.
 First edition cover | |
| Author | Bernie Sanders |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Published | February 21, 2023 |
| Publisher | Crown Publishing Group |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print, e-book, audiobook |
| ISBN | 978-0593238714 (Hardcover) |
Synopsis
editSanders dedicated the book to his older brother, Larry, who introduced him to the writings of Sigmund Freud and Karl Marx, while the family struggled to make ends meet. This interested him in subjects such as politics and history. Larry is a member of the Green Party of England and Wales.[1]
According to Crown, the book is "a progressive takedown of the über-capitalist status quo."[2] Sanders refers to American billionaires as oligarchs.[3] He specifically calls Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, "the embodiment of the extreme corporate greed that shapes our times."[4]
Sanders discusses income inequality in the United States, how the influx of money impacts democracy, and suggests that corporations are contributing to the climate crisis.[5] He warns about technological unemployment stemming from increased automation, calling for increasing taxes on companies that rely excessively on automation to cut costs.[6] Sanders also talks about news deserts and how the lack of local news leads people to pay more attention to conspiracy theories on social media. He advocates for providing federal funding for local media.[3]
In the book, Sanders discusses the failure of the United States Congress to pass the Build Back Better Act, referring to it as "one of the most difficult, demanding, and demoralizing years" of his congressional tenure.[7] He criticizes President Joe Biden for failing to follow through on a campaign promise to end federal contracts with companies that oppose unionization of their employees.[4] Additionally, Sanders writes about his chairmanship of the Senate Budget Committee, his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns,[8] the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries,[9] the January 6 United States Capitol attack, and the inauguration of Joe Biden, as well as the photo of him attending the latter that became a viral Internet meme.[10]
Promotion
editSanders went on a national tour to promote the book, appearing with Cornel West at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Amphitheater on February 20,[11] at The Anthem in Washington, D.C., on March 1,[12] with Robert Costa at the University of Virginia Center for Politics in Charlottesville, Virginia, on March 2,[13] at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California, on March 3,[14] with Nichols and Angie Coiro at the California Theatre in San Jose, California, on March 4,[15] and at the Tucson Festival of Books in Tucson, Arizona, on March 5.[16] As part of the book tour, Sanders also visited the UK, including events at Oxford Union[17] at the University of Oxford, where he was awarded honorary membership in the Oxford Union Society,[18] a conversation with Scottish comedian Frankie Boyle in Brighton,[19] and another with left-wing British author Owen Jones as part of The Guardian's Oxford Live series.[20]
Tickets for Sanders' U.S. tour were sold on Ticketmaster, for up to $95 each in Washington.[12] He was paid $170,000 by Penguin Random House for the book. Sanders did not schedule or price the tour and gets none of its proceeds.[21]
Sanders also visited the Netherlands[22] and Belgium[23] to promote the Dutch translation of his book, "Het is oké om kwaad te zijn op het kapitalisme".
Reception
editOn its release day, February 21, It's OK to be Angry About Capitalism topped Amazon's best-seller list in the U.S. national government, political economy, and economic conditions categories.[5] According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the book is a "damning indictment of the past 40 years of largely unfettered, neoliberal capitalism".[24] Zoe Williams of The Guardian says the book "tackles the grim facts about the economic order that the political establishment wilfully ignores" and "is easily as frustrating and depressing as it is galvanising and uplifting".[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Inskeep, Steve; Macaluso, Jojo (February 21, 2023). "Sen. Bernie Sanders is embracing his anger. A new book details what he's angry about". NPR. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (February 12, 2023). "Bernie Sanders Has a New Role. It Could Be His Final Act in Washington". The New York Times. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ a b Adams, Tim (February 19, 2023). "Bernie Sanders: 'Oligarchs run Russia. But guess what? They run the US as well' | Bernie Sanders". The Guardian. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ a b Gaudiano, Nicole (February 21, 2023). "Bernie Sanders jabs Joe Biden for not replying when asked to fulfill his promise to halt federal contracts for anti-union employers". Business Insider. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ^ a b Hartzog, Oscar (February 21, 2023). "Bernie Sanders' New Book 'It's OK to Be Angry About Capitalism' Tops Charts on First Day". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ Bove, Tristan (February 21, 2023). "Bernie Sanders sides with Bill Gates and says he wants to tax the robot that takes your job". Fortune. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ^ Read, Bridget (February 17, 2023). "My Valentine's Day Date With Bernie Sanders: The senator railed against Über-capitalism, signed autographs, and ordered soup". New York. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ a b Williams, Zoe (February 24, 2023). "It's OK to be Angry About Capitalism by Bernie Sanders review – straight talking from the socialist senator". The Guardian. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ Gaudiano, Nicole (February 21, 2023). "Bernie Sanders says Elizabeth Warren could have helped him win the 2020 primary but 'chose not to' by withholding her endorsement". Business Insider. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ Sanders, Bernie (February 19, 2023). "Bernie Sanders on going viral: 'There I was with my mittens on the moon, at the Last Supper, on the Titanic' | Politics books". The Guardian. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ "BAM to Host Discussion Featuring Bernie Sanders and Cornel West". BKReader. January 24, 2023. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ a b Schemmel, Alec (February 2, 2023). "Critics blast Bernie Sanders for selling $95 tickets to his 'anti-capitalism' event". WCIV. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ "Sanders to speak at Center for Politics forum". WCAV. February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ^ Larsen, Peter (February 23, 2023). "Sen. Bernie Sanders coming to Glendale's Alex Theatre for his new book". Pasadena Star-News. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
- ^ "Local Events – The Mercury News". Mercurynews.com. September 9, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ "Bernie Sanders to present at Tucson Festival of Books". KGUN 9 Tucson News. February 21, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ^ Bernie Sanders addresses Oxford University, retrieved March 15, 2023
- ^ Bernie Sanders questioned by Oxford Students, retrieved March 15, 2023
- ^ Bernie Sanders Meets Frankie Boyle | It's OK To Be Angry About Capitalism, retrieved March 15, 2023
- ^ Bernie Sanders on Capitalism, Class and Freedom, retrieved March 15, 2023
- ^ O'Connor, Kevin (February 21, 2023). "National tour for Bernie Sanders' new book leads to unintended questions". VTDigger. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
- ^ "In gesprek met Bernie Sanders". debalie. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Meet the Thinker: Bernie Sanders". BOZAR. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ Woodhead, Cameron; Carroll, Steven (February 24, 2023). "Unnerving short stories, an Irish romcom and a journey into the past". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
Further reading
edit- Al-Sheikh, Yaseen (February 23, 2023). "Eight Lessons From Bernie Sanders's New Book". Jacobin.