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The Common Good

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About this listen

 Robert B. Reich makes a powerful case for the expansion of America’s moral imagination. Rooting his argument in common sense and everyday reality, he demonstrates that a common good constitutes the very essence of any society or nation. Societies, he says, undergo virtuous cycles that reinforce the common good as well as vicious cycles that undermine it, one of which America has been experiencing for the past five decades. This process can and must be reversed. But first we need to weigh the moral obligations of citizenship and carefully consider how we relate to honor, shame, patriotism, truth, and the meaning of leadership.

Powerful, urgent, and utterly vital, this is a heartfelt missive from one of our foremost political thinkers. Business Ethics Civics & Citizenship Ethics & Morality Freedom & Security Philosophy Political Science Politics & Government Workplace & Organisational Behavior Socialism Business Capitalism Taxation Morality

Critic reviews

“Against the grain of much liberal thinking . . . Reich’s proposals would make a good starting point for a new progressive political project.” —Michael J. Sandel, The New York Times Book Review

“Very timely . . . Reich’s work is an important call for reform that should appeal to a wide audience disaffected with the status quo.” —Library Journal (starred review)

“Reich’s lucidly defining and empowering call for revitalized civic awareness—complete with an enticing list of recommended reading and discussion guide—is an ideal catalyst for book-group conversations.” —Booklist

“Clear-voiced and accessible.” —Publishers Weekly

“Brief but well-argued . . . a provocative essay.” —Kirkus
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A fantastic framework for understanding the variety of issues which challenge modern society. Applicable to people from all countries, not just America.

Insightful and Important Analysis

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This is a must-read, it will help many of you still not American to get a better understanding of what's the common is. The narrator is also very good!

Amazing book!

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In the first term of my University of Sussex Politics BA I learned that there is no “common good” except perhaps in the extreme case of avoiding nuclear war. There’s what’s good for the working class and what’s good for the ruling class. Two very different things that will never be reconciled. Watch the stock market. Whatever’s bad for workers is good for Wall Street.

At the same time I love Reich and once you understand that terms like “working class” seem to be foreign to everyone in the USA except Bernie Saunders you’ll get along just fine.

The common good does not exist.

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