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Dark Money : The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right by Jane Mayer (2016, Hardcover)
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About this product
Product Identifiers
PublisherKnopf Doubleday Publishing Group
ISBN-100385535597
ISBN-139780385535595
eBay Product ID (ePID)219260984
Product Key Features
Book TitleDark Money : the Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right
Number of Pages464 Pages
LanguageEnglish
TopicPolitical Ideologies / Radicalism, Political Process / General, Political Process / Campaigns & Elections, Political Ideologies / Libertarianism, General, Political Process / Political Advocacy, United States / 21st Century, American Government / General, Political Ideologies / Conservatism & Liberalism
Publication Year2016
IllustratorYes
GenrePolitical Science, History
AuthorJane Mayer
FormatHardcover
Dimensions
Item Height1.3 in
Item Weight27.7 Oz
Item Length9.5 in
Item Width6.4 in
Additional Product Features
Intended AudienceTrade
LCCN2015-957180
Dewey Edition23
Reviews"The book is written in straightforward and largely unemotional prose, but it reads as if conceived in quiet anger. Mayer believes that the Koch brothers and a small number of allied plutocrats have essentially hijacked American democracy, using their money not just to compete with their political adversaries, but to drown them out. . . . Dark Money emerges as an impressively reported and well-documented work. . . . The importance of Dark Money [flows] from its scope and perspective. . . . It is not easy to uncover the inner workings of an essentially secretive political establishment. Mayer has come as close to doing it as anyone is likely to come anytime soon. . . . She makes a formidable argument." --From the cover of the Times Book Review "Revelatory. . .persuasive, timely and necessary. . . . [O]nly the most thoroughly documented, compendious account could do justice to the Kochs' bizarre and Byzantine family history and the scale and scope of their influence." -- The New York Times [D]eeply researched and studded with detail. . .it seems destined to rattle the Koch executive offices in Wichita as other investigations have not. [ Dark Money ] could inspire a more intense discussion about the impact of this wealthy conservative cadre on the Republican Party and the recent course of American politics." -- Washington Post "[B]ombshells explode in the pages of Dark Money , Jane Mayer's indispensible new history . . . .combines her own research with the work of scores of other investigators, to describe how the Kochs and fellow billionaires like Richard Scaife have spent hundreds of millions to 'move their political ideas from the fringe to the center of American political life.'" -- The Guardian "A careful exposé. . . . Mayer closely documents her charges. . .while delivering a swiftly flowing narrative. . . . A valuable contribution to the study of modern electoral politics in an age that Theodore White, and perhaps even Hunter S. Thompson, would not recognize." -- Kirkus , "Mayer is. . . [a] writer whose reporting can leave a reader breathless. . . . I urge you to read Dark Money." --Bill Moyers "Jane Mayer''s Dark Money is utterly brilliant and chilling -- no matter how much you think you already know. . . . Read it!" --Naomi Klein, bestselling author of The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism and This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs the Climate "Jane Mayer''s Dark Money . . . is absolutely necessary reading for anyone who wants to make sense of our politics. Lay aside the endless punditry about Donald''s belligerence or Hillary''s ambition; Mayer is telling the epic story of America in our time. It is a triumph of investigative reporting, perhaps not surprising for a journalist who has won most of the awards her profession has to offer.... She''s a pro, and she''s given the world a full accounting of what had been a shadowy and largely unseen force. . . . [R]emarkable." -- The New York Review of Books "The book is written in straightforward and largely unemotional prose, but it reads as if conceived in quiet anger. Mayer believes that the Koch brothers and a small number of allied plutocrats have essentially hijacked American democracy, using their money not just to compete with their political adversaries, but to drown them out. . . . Dark Money emerges as an impressively reported and well-documented work. . . . The importance of Dark Money [flows] from its scope and perspective. . . . It is not easy to uncover the inner workings of an essentially secretive political establishment. Mayer has come as close to doing it as anyone is likely to come anytime soon. . . . She makes a formidable argument." --From the cover of the Times Book Review "Revelatory. . .persuasive, timely and necessary. . . . [O]nly the most thoroughly documented, compendious account could do justice to the Kochs'' bizarre and Byzantine family history and the scale and scope of their influence." -- The New York Times "[A] comprehensive history. . . . [S]tunning." --Salon [D]eeply researched and studded with detail. . .it seems destined to rattle the Koch executive offices in Wichita as other investigations have not. [ Dark Money ] could inspire a more intense discussion about the impact of this wealthy conservative cadre on the Republican Party and the recent course of American politics." -- Washington Post "[B]ombshells explode in the pages of Dark Money , Jane Mayer''s indispensible new history . . . .combines her own research with the work of scores of other investigators, to describe how the Kochs and fellow billionaires like Richard Scaife have spent hundreds of millions to ''move their political ideas from the fringe to the center of American political life.''" -- The Guardian "Packed with revelations. . . . One of the essential books about our political system''s unparalleled capacity for perpetuating income inequality. Dark Money is more than just a work of political journalism -- it''s a vital portrait of a nation that, as perhaps never before, is being shaped by a few very rich, very conservative businessmen." -- San Francisco Chroncicle "Amazing. . . . The most important political book of the year." -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch "[A]n extraordinarily well-documented account of the influential, interlocking organizations with innocuous names created by the Koch brothers." -- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "A careful exposé. . . . Mayer closely documents her charges. . .while delivering a swiftly flowing narrative. . . . A valuable contribution to the study of modern electoral politics in an age that Theodore White, and perhaps even Hunter S. Thompson, would not recognize." -- Kirkus , [D]eeply researched and studded with detail...it seems destined to rattle the Koch executive offices in Wichita as other investigations have not. [ Dark Money ] could inspire a more intense discussion about the impact of this wealthy conservative cadre on the Republican Party and the recent course of American politics." -- Washington Post "A persuasive, timely and necessary story of the Koch brothers' empire.... [O]nly the most thoroughly documented, compendious account could do justice to the Kochs' bizarre and Byzantine family history and the scale and scope of their influence." -- The New York Times
Dewey Decimal320.520973
SynopsisWhy is America living in an age of profound economic inequality? Why, despite the desperate need to address climate change, have even modest environmental efforts been defeated again and again? Why have protections for employees been decimated? Why do hedge-fund billionaires pay a far lower tax rate than middle-class workers? The conventional answer is that a popular uprising against "big government" led to the ascendancy of a broad-based conservative movement. But as Jane Mayer shows in this powerful, meticulously reported history, a network of exceedingly wealthy people with extreme libertarian views bankrolled a systematic, step-by-step plan to fundamentally alter the American political system. The network has brought together some of the richest people on the planet. Their core beliefs--that taxes are a form of tyranny; that government oversight of business is an assault on freedom--are sincerely held. But these beliefs also advance their personal and corporate interests: Many of their companies have run afoul of federal pollution, worker safety, securities, and tax laws. The chief figures in the network are Charles and David Koch, whose father made his fortune in part by building oil refineries in Stalin's Russia and Hitler's Germany. The patriarch later was a founding member of the John Birch Society, whose politics were so radical it believed Dwight Eisenhower was a communist. The brothers were schooled in a political philosophy that asserted the only role of government is to provide security and to enforce property rights. When libertarian ideas proved decidedly unpopular with voters, the Koch brothers and their allies chose another path. If they pooled their vast resources, they could fund an interlocking array of organizations that could work in tandem to influence and ultimately control academic institutions, think tanks, the courts, statehouses, Congress, and, they hoped, the presidency. Richard Mellon Scaife, the mercurial heir to banking and oil fortunes, had the brilliant insight that most of their political activities could be written off as tax-deductible "philanthropy." These organizations were given innocuous names such as Americans for Prosperity. Funding sources were hidden whenever possible. This process reached its apotheosis with the allegedly populist Tea Party movement, abetted mightily by the Citizens United decision--a case conceived of by legal advocates funded by the network. The political operatives the network employs are disciplined, smart, and at times ruthless. Mayer documents instances in which people affiliated with these groups hired private detectives to impugn whistle-blowers, journalists, and even government investigators. And their efforts have been remarkably successful. Libertarian views on taxes and regulation, once far outside the mainstream and still rejected by most Americans, are ascendant in the majority of state governments, the Supreme Court, and Congress. Meaningful environmental, labor, finance, and tax reforms have been stymied. Jane Mayer spent five years conducting hundreds of interviews-including with several sources within the network-and scoured public records, private papers, and court proceedings in reporting this book. In a taut and utterly convincing narrative, she traces the byzantine trail of the billions of dollars spent by the network and provides vivid portraits of the colorful figures behind the new American oligarchy. Dark Money is a book that must be read by anyone who cares about the future of American democracy.
LC Classification NumberJC599.U5M373 2016
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Ratings and Reviews
Most relevant reviews
- Mar 08, 2016
The Rich and Powerful
This book is a real eye opener about the behind the scene forces influencing our political system. I have a much better understanding of the rich and powerful, The Cato Institute, The Koch brothers, many other right wing think tanks, and their vision for America to maintain their wealth and the political system. The Koch brothers, especially Charles is as evil as the come; towards family members and others. Their commitment to conservatism only goes so far though. During the banking bailout debate they were pushing the Congress and Senate to oppose it, until the stock market dropped nearly 8% in one day costing the brothers nearly $140,000,000. Quietly behind the scenes they encouraged the members of the House and Senate to approve the bailout. Quite the double standard! These so called foundations enable the rich to enjoy huge tax advantages, influence politicians, provide false information about individuals from Anita Hill, Benghazi, the Clintons, etc. You really see just how evil these foundations and individuals really are, especially when you are looking at members such as Jim DeMint. The early leaders of many of these foundations were members of the John Birch Society, were liberalists who believe that the federal government needs to stay out of their business, want to abolish the IRS, EPA, etc. Amazing read so far.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Jul 27, 2016
Absolute Read
This book explains how our democracy has been bought by the Koch Brothers and 0.1% through an elaborate system of distortion, lies, and financial payments to influence how existing politicians vote and to put new politicians in power to enact laws that favor Koch industries and other large corporations, as well as to disrupt the business of the federal government. The results of decades of these pursuits has rendered our government unfunctional and has mislead citizens. Citizens have lost their ability to influence national decisions. National decisions are now determined by the Koch Brothers and 0.1. %. Unfortunately the book does not outline how we can get our democracy back.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- May 21, 2016
.Everyone interested in the survival of our country, should read this book.
An in depth study of what has been going on behind the scenes in our government today .... the first third, is way to deep, and difficult to always follow, but having said that, I am actually surprised that the author has not met with a fatal accident yet .... that seems to be what happens with people in this country, who expose to the public, things that powerful people would rather not have the public know about, much less understand. The rest of the book is a pretty straight forward explanation of how some of the richest people in the world, have decided that their own personal wealth, is more important than the welfare of the masses, or the nation ... that their own personal beliefs are more important that yours or mine .... and then used their wealth, and the combined wealth of others, to systematically destroy our elected government, from within, using our own legal system and very long term goals, to corrupt, subvert, undermine and eviscerate the very systems you think are in place to protect us all. The book gives one a whole new understanding of how people like Glen Beck, Carl Rove, and Rush Linbaugh can end up with money and a following ... money does to talk. If you can follow it, this is a very good, and truly scary read for anyone who understands that this country was established to protect it's citizens from the tyranny of others, be they religious and governmental in origin..Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Apr 03, 2016
A Must Read
A very well researched book, packed to the hilt with fact after fact, of valuable information for anyone who wants to really understand this right-wing nightmare. Because it was important enough for the Koch's to attempt a discredit of it's author Jane Mayer, that's your first clue this book should be on everyone's 'read' list. This is truly a book to be digested by anyone who understands that right wing politicians and their financial backers are methodically destroying democracy. A very-scary read, but this book explains exactly how they are doing it and is an essential source of information for anyone who loves this country and is concerned about the futures of 'ALL' Americans, not just those at the financial top of the pile, and at everyone else's expense.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Sep 06, 2019
Very detailed yet an easy read
"Dark Money" removes the 'dark' from what I consider the corrupting influence of the millions of dollars being shoveled into our elections. It is an expose. I was somewhat knowledgeable about the topic, or so I thought, but the depth and pervasiveness of the moneyed elite and their swinging of elections and dominating the political climate in America is amazing. And scary. I've always been opposed to the idea of PACs and to the Citizens United decision. I consider them anti-democratic tools that favor the rich and powerful. This book illustrates the harm these have brought our democracy, as well as many other areas that dark money is stealing our liberty.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Mar 30, 2016
American's Beware
Dark Money isn't necessarily an easy read, but if you are interested in a better understanding about what is happening in Politics today it is a must read. Full of facts and figures about how big money investors have been shaping politics for decades, setting up a system that puts them in control of government to increase their financial growth. Scary stuff.Verified purchase: YesCondition: New
- Jan 14, 2020
Intense must read
Not through it yet. It is not the kind of book you sit down and read in a day. It takes time to absorb what you have read, and it is so intense that if you read too much at one time, it quits making sense. I truly wish all of this were common knowledge. it illuminates what is going on in our country today-takes away all surprises- answers all questions. Takes away the Emporer and the Pharisee's clothes. You can tell who they are because of their stark nakedness. It gives names, dates, and irrefutable facts.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- Dec 23, 2022
Dark Money and who funds what
This is where the money comes from to limit the EPA, keep the minimum wage low, relax clean water standards, fund conservative causes, try to kill the ACA act, suppress voting, and influence politicians. It is all tax deductible!Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- Jun 02, 2020
The next time someone claims America is "Exceptional," ask him if he/she has read "Dark Money."
Every educable American should read "Dark Money." Read "Pain Killer" after that.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
- Sep 25, 2019
Our government is run for the benefit of corporations and the super wealthy.
This book is the key to understanding how the GOP has gone completely off the rails. Well researched and chilling.Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned
