Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America: A Recent History

Evil Geniuses traces how America's approach to economic fairness shifted beginning in the early 1970s. During the twentieth century, the country had built increasingly fair and prosperous economic and social systems, creating a large, secure middle class where broad prosperity was shared. This changed when a coalition of business executives, the superrich, and right-wing figures systematically undermined the rules and norms that had supported middle-class stability. The result was a reversal of a century of economic progress: workers lost power, markets became dominant, and wealth concentrated among a small oligarchy while most Americans faced declining economic prospects. Andersen examines why and how this transformation occurred through a detailed account of America's cultural, economic, and political history. He identifies specific actors and their roles in this shift, including the radical right in economics and law, financial institutions, the establishment, and liberal figures. The book presents this history as a deliberate, long-term campaign with documented consequences for American society.