The Great Deformation

Listener Reviews

1. 3.0(1)

   Reads like a text for $5 words and coloquialisms

   Is there anything you would change about this book?

   The style of writing is extremely annoying. It's hard enough to follow an audiobook that is full of statistics and dates, followed by names and positions; but Stockman makes it even more difficult by showcasing his capacious and abstruse vocabulary (if those don't ring a bell for you...then this book probably isn't for you). He frequently uses rarely used and technical language followed by something akin to a pop-culture reference. It causes the listener to have to rewind and re-listen to portions again and again. In addition, I got tired of hearing the constant hyperbole in virtually every chapter. I realize that costly mistakes were made by men in power in the past, but not every mistake can be a "monumental blunder of epic proportions". While I did find much of the information useful, and I was thankful for the thorough explanation of the topics discussed, I would probably have preferred a book with less discussion about the Great Depression in favor of a book that focused on more recent history. 30+ hours is a very long book. The narrator does an excellent job in my opinion, but the content is just not at the same level.

   Jodi Pruitt · May 7, 2024

2. 5.0(1)

   Eye opening and filled with information

   I'm only about 1/2 way through this audiobook but wanted to write a review anyways. From the start of this book I was highly engaged even though it is filled with more data, stats, and numbers than I could realistically consume. It was very eye opening and even though it does jump a round quite a bit, its like a history lesson told from financial side of things. It gives you a new perspective on government, politics, and political figures. Money changes everything. I actually feel like everyone should listen to this book. Even though quite a bit goes over my head, and there is so much information to consume, there are parts that will really stand out to you. You'll gain an understanding of how our financial system works, and fails... and might open your eyes to the future. Highly recommended.

   Samanyi · April 16, 2024

3. 5.0(1)

   A tour de force of quantitative data and insight into the outcomes of economic policy

   Mr. Stockman's well written book provides a distinct perspective on the history of U.S. economic policy as well as his own thesis about the present impact of the policies of this and previous decades. He also constructs a coherent argument regarding the future impact of today's policies and some alternatives for future economic policy. This book is a tour de force of quantitative data and insight into the outcomes of economic policy. It is a provocative book. His data-driven approach should both challenge and inform intelligent laypeople and professional economists who must make personal and professional judgments about the economic well being of the nation. I have read it twice as well as listened to the audio version.

   Kyra George · January 26, 2023

4. 3.0(1)

   VERY TECHNICAL - HARD TO FOLLOW

   There is a lot of good stuff in this book - but I found it hard to follow. The excessive use of economic jargon left me lost in many places. He makes many good points but the delivery is more complex and technical than it needs to be. Perhaps for those whose who are working in the finance sector it may be Ok, but for an engineer like me - it was pretty hard going for a lot of the time. I do however agree with his overalll conclusions:' - Capitalism has been taken captive by some elusive group - The American tax payer has been robbed greviously of over $700 billion - America is on the verge of financial collapse.

   Kenny T · January 4, 2023

5. 5.0(1)

   Reality of the U.S. Central Bank's affect

   Great information about the looming fiscal disaster in America if politicians are unchecked without limits

   Cortney Hutchins · May 24, 2022

6. 5.0(1)

   Loads of Information but problematic writing

   This is an excellently supported book that goes into extraordinary detail of the US economy from the period leading up to the great depression to the present. This is not a quick or easy listen. The author may be an expert in economics but he is not an expert writer. The book is very long and filled with annoying mixed metaphors (that are sometimes so bad they are funny), cliches repeated ad nauseam, and jumps wildly between temporally distant causes and effects and from one subject to another. Thus I can’t say this was a pleasure of a listen. Nevertheless the author makes quite a few really excellent points. The author shows extreme political independence casting blame and praise regardless of party. The book is also quite a downer, filled with doom and gloom with almost no way out. This book is filled with facts and statistics that are key to understanding our economic past and future. I did not agree with everything the author proposes (the gold standard), but I was surprised by how much I found quite convincing. Clearly this tomb is not for everyone. This is more than a bit dry and detailed oriented, yet I found it a very rational alternative view of modern economics,

   Paddington · April 13, 2022

7. 5.0(1)

   Rebuttal of 1 star review

   Any additional comments?

   I could not wait for 36 hours to rebut the 1 star review, so after 1 hour of listening I give this book the highest marks for content and production. Finally someone who understands both Government and finance lays out in understandable and chronological order how crony capitalism, an unchecked FED and bigger and bigger government is destroying free market capitalism and prosperity in this country.

   Mia Shields · April 7, 2021

8. 5.0(1)

   It's all here

   Would you consider the audio edition of The Great Deformation to be better than the print version?

   Not read print version so no basis for comparison.

   What did you like best about this story?

   Efficient and comprehensive coverage of a vast topic.

   Have you listened to any of William Hughes’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

   No I have not.

   If you could give The Great Deformation a new subtitle, what would it be?

   It's all in here!

   Any additional comments?

   Superb work!

   Mercedes Grant · November 23, 2020