Abundance Book Review

Abundance Book Review | Klein & Thompson’s Politics of Plenty

Authors: Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson
Genres: Political Economy, Public Policy, Progress Studies
Publication Date: March 2025
Publisher: Avid Reader Press (Simon & Schuster)
Pages: 304
ISBN: 9781668023488

Star Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Overview

Abundance argues that America’s liberalism has forgotten how to build. Instead of redistributing scarcity, Klein and Thompson urge a “politics of abundance”—reimagining policy to prioritize results and infrastructure alongside ideals.

Spoiler-Free Summary

The authors trace how rules meant to prevent harm—zoning, environmental review, worker protections—have hampered progress on housing, clean energy, healthcare, and infrastructure. They propose a return to ambitious governance capable of “building things again.”

Writing Style & Craft

Drawing on journalism, narrative history, and clear case studies, Klein & Thompson communicate with clarity and urgency. Their tone—both visionary and pragmatic—reflects their media backgrounds in NYT and The Atlantic.

Themes

• Output Over Process: Focus on what gets built, not how.
• Progressive Growth: Restoring infrastructure, technology, and ambition to liberal politics.
• Regulation’s Dual Edge: Necessary for justice, yet capable of stalling progress.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths: Compelling framing of modern delays, accessible writing, and it taps into real frustration with stagnation.
Criticisms: Critics note vague solutions and lack of specificity; some worry the growth-first lens could enable deregulation and diminish public accountability.

Verdict

Abundance is a timely and provocative policy manifesto urging a shift from scarcity to construction politics. It imagines liberalism with teeth and ambition—but skirts the nuance of trade-offs. Thought-provoking and readable, even as its vision remains aspirational. Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Further Reading

For additional insights, check out The Guardian review, The New York Times review, and Financial Times critique.

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