Listen, Liberal: Or, What Ever Happened to the Party of the People? Hardcover – 15 Mar 2016

Review

Praise for Thomas Frank s "Pity the Billionaire"

A spirited, acerbic, stylish exploration of the Republican resurrection.
"The Boston Globe"

A feisty and galvanizing book.
"San Francisco Chronicle"

Frank s wit is as sharp as ever.
"The Washington Post"

Praise for "The Wrecking Crew"

Glorious . . . brilliant . . . leavened by an eye for the unexpected and the absurd.
"Los Angeles Times"

Frank combines two things absent from most liberal commentary: muckraking reporting and satiric wit.
"The New York Times Book Review"

Praise for "What s the Matter with Kansas?"

Scathing and high-spirited.
"The New Yorker"

Dazzlingly insightful.
"Chicago Tribune"

The year s most prescient political book.
Frank Rich, "The New York Times""

What makes Frank s book new, different and important is its offer of a compelling theory as to how and why the party of Jefferson, Jackson and Roosevelt is now so unlikely to champion the economic needs of everyday people. . . . In such a looking-glass world, "Listen, Liberal "is a desperately needed corrective.
History News Network

In his new book, progressive commentator Thomas Frank says Democrats need to take a good long look in the mirror if they want answers to why blue-collar workers are feeling abandoned and even infuriated by what used to be their party.
"New York Post"

Over the past four decades, Frank argues, the Democrats have embraced a new favorite constituency: the professional class the doctors, lawyers, engineers, programmers, entrepreneurs, artists, writers, financiers and other so-called creatives whose fetish for academic credentials and technological innovation has infected the party of the working class. . . . For that class, Frank argues, income and wealth inequality is not a problem but an inevitable condition.
"Washington Post"

An astute dissection of contemporary Democratic politics that demonstrates, cogently and at times acidly, how the party lost the allegiance of blue-collar Americans.
"Publisher s Weekly"

A tough and thought-provoking look at what s wrong with America . . . Frank puts forth an impressive catalog of Democratic disappointments, more than enough to make liberals uncomfortable.
"Booklist"

Thomas Frank s new book "Listen, Liberal" documents a half-century of work by the Democratic elite to belittle working people and exile their concerns to the fringes of the party s platform. If the prevailing ideology of the Republican establishment is that of a sneering aristocracy, Democratic elites are all too often the purveyors of a smirking meritocracy that offers working people very little.
"Huffington Post"

As with Frank s other books, "Listen, Liberal" is a piece of contemporary history that tells us not only what the powerful are up to, but how the trick is being pulled, with an admirable deployment of irony. . . . While his previous books are essentially about devils being devils, this one shows how the angels have fallen further than they realize.
"Prospect" (UK)"

Thoroughly entertaining . . . Frank delights in skewering the sacred cows of coastal liberalism . . . he argues that the Democratic party once the Party of the People now caters to the interests of a professional managerial class consisting of lawyers, doctors, professors, scientists, programmers, even investment bankers . . . A serious political critique.
"New York Times Book Review" (front page)

What makes Frank s book new, different and important is its offer of a compelling theory as to how and why the party of Jefferson, Jackson and Roosevelt is now so unlikely to champion the economic needs of everyday people. . . . In such a looking-glass world, "Listen, Liberal "is a desperately needed corrective.
History News Network

In his new book, progressive commentator Thomas Frank says Democrats need to take a good long look in the mirror if they want answers to why blue-collar workers are feeling abandoned and even infuriated by what used to be their party.
"New York Post"

Over the past four decades, Frank argues, the Democrats have embraced a new favorite constituency: the professional class the doctors, lawyers, engineers, programmers, entrepreneurs, artists, writers, financiers and other so-called creatives whose fetish for academic credentials and technological innovation has infected the party of the working class. . . . For that class, Frank argues, income and wealth inequality is not a problem but an inevitable condition.
"Washington Post"

An astute dissection of contemporary Democratic politics that demonstrates, cogently and at times acidly, how the party lost the allegiance of blue-collar Americans.
"Publisher s Weekly"

A tough and thought-provoking look at what s wrong with America . . . Frank puts forth an impressive catalog of Democratic disappointments, more than enough to make liberals uncomfortable.
"Booklist"

Important . . . engaging . . . An edgy even disturbing analysis of the Democratic Party s jilting of its traditional base.
"The National Book Review"

Thomas Frank s new book "Listen, Liberal" documents a half-century of work by the Democratic elite to belittle working people and exile their concerns to the fringes of the party s platform. If the prevailing ideology of the Republican establishment is that of a sneering aristocracy, Democratic elites are all too often the purveyors of a smirking meritocracy that offers working people very little.
"Huffington Post"

Democrats often use the fact that Republicans have gone off the deep end to ignore their left flank, on the grounds that those liberals have nowhere else to go politically. "Listen, Liberal" contributes to the literature that expresses deep frustration with that decision, the fuel for a revolt.
"The Fiscal Times"

As with Frank s other books, "Listen, Liberal" is a piece of contemporary history that tells us not only what the powerful are up to, but how the trick is being pulled, with an admirable deployment of irony. . . . While his previous books are essentially about devils being devils, this one shows how the angels have fallen further than they realize.
"Prospect" (UK)"

Thoroughly entertaining . . . Frank delights in skewering the sacred cows of coastal liberalism . . . he argues that the Democratic party once the Party of the People now caters to the interests of a professional managerial class consisting of lawyers, doctors, professors, scientists, programmers, even investment bankers . . . A serious political critique.
New York Times Book Review (front page)

What makes Frank s book new, different and important is its offer of a compelling theory as to how and why the party of Jefferson, Jackson and Roosevelt is now so unlikely to champion the economic needs of everyday people. . . . In such a looking-glass world, Listen, Liberal is a desperately needed corrective.
History News Network

In his new book, progressive commentator Thomas Frank says Democrats need to take a good long look in the mirror if they want answers to why blue-collar workers are feeling abandoned and even infuriated by what used to be their party.
New York Post

The most important political book of 2016, and one that should disturb and hopefully influence progressives for years to come.
OBRag.com

A must-read.
Naomi Klein

Over the past four decades, Frank argues, the Democrats have embraced a new favorite constituency: the professional class the doctors, lawyers, engineers, programmers, entrepreneurs, artists, writers, financiers and other so-called creatives whose fetish for academic credentials and technological innovation has infected the party of the working class. . . . For that class, Frank argues, income and wealth inequality is not a problem but an inevitable condition.
Washington Post

An astute dissection of contemporary Democratic politics that demonstrates, cogently and at times acidly, how the party lost the allegiance of blue-collar Americans.
Publisher s Weekly

No one has written more consistently and stylishly about the conservative onslaught in America and the betrayal of liberal democratic values than Thomas Frank, arguably the Left s leading essayists and the founder of The Baffler. This is Mr. Frank s best book since What s the Matter with Kansas?
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A tough and thought-provoking look at what s wrong with America . . . Frank puts forth an impressive catalog of Democratic disappointments, more than enough to make liberals uncomfortable.
Booklist

Important . . . engaging . . . An edgy even disturbing analysis of the Democratic Party s jilting of its traditional base.
The National Book Review

An engaging and witty demolition of the [Democratic] party, especially its modern post-New Deal incarnation . . . Listen, Liberal is a great read for this election season.
SocialistWorker.org

Thomas Frank s new book Listen, Liberal documents a half-century of work by the Democratic elite to belittle working people and exile their concerns to the fringes of the party s platform. If the prevailing ideology of the Republican establishment is that of a sneering aristocracy, Democratic elites are all too often the purveyors of a smirking meritocracy that offers working people very little.
Huffington Post

Long overdue . . . Listen, Liberal is a powerful addition to America s political discourse. It is full of truths and, sadly, the truth hurts.
Washington City Paper

Democrats often use the fact that Republicans have gone off the deep end to ignore their left flank, on the grounds that those liberals have nowhere else to go politically. Listen, Liberal contributes to the literature that expresses deep frustration with that decision, the fuel for a revolt.
The Fiscal Times

As with Frank s other books, Listen, Liberal is a piece of contemporary history that tells us not only what the powerful are up to, but how the trick is being pulled, with an admirable deployment of irony. . . . While his previous books are essentially about devils being devils, this one shows how the angels have fallen further than they realize.
Prospect (UK)

An indispensable read . . . provocative and stimulating.
National Newswatch

Review

‘Over the past four decades, Frank argues, the Democrats have embraced a new favorite constituency: the professional class ― the doctors, lawyers, engineers, programmers, entrepreneurs, artists, writers, financiers and other so-called creatives whose fetish for academic credentials and technological innovation has infected the party of the working class … For that class, Frank argues, income and wealth inequality is not a problem but an inevitable condition.’

‘An astute dissection of contemporary Democratic politics that demonstrates, cogently and at times acidly, how the party lost the allegiance of blue-collar Americans.’

‘A tough and thought-provoking look at what’s wrong with America … Frank puts forth an impressive catalog of Democratic disappointments, more than enough to make liberals uncomfortable.’

‘Thomas Frank’s new book Listen, Liberal documents a half-century of work by the Democratic elite to belittle working people and exile their concerns to the fringes of the party’s platform. If the prevailing ideology of the Republican establishment is that of a sneering aristocracy, Democratic elites are all too often the purveyors of a smirking meritocracy that offers working people very little.’

‘As with Frank’s other books, Listen, Liberal is a piece of contemporary history that tells us not only what the powerful are up to, but how the trick is being pulled, with an admirable deployment of irony … While his previous books are essentially about devils being devils, this one shows how the angels have fallen further than they realize.’

‘A must-read.’

‘Thoroughly entertaining … An unabashed polemic … Frank delights in skewering the sacred cows of coastal liberalism, including private universities, bike paths, microfinance, the Clinton Foundation, “well-meaning billionaires” and any public policy offering “innovation” or “education” as a solution to inequality.’ 

‘A must-read for entrepreneurs who want to understand what's happening this year in politics and business.’