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The age of selfishness
240 pages
A sobering, visually driven dissection of how extreme individualism and unchecked self-interest paved the way for global financial collapse.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping back to view a massive, interconnected web of ideology and consequence. It moves at a steady, deliberate pace, using the accessible format of sequential art to untangle dense economic policies and philosophical histories. The tone is sharply analytical and deeply cautionary, wrapping the reader in a sobering mood as it traces the line from mid-century objectivism to the 2008 financial crash. Rather than a dry historical text, the visual narrative provides a clear, pointed exploration of the ethics of capitalism and the real-world cost of extreme individualism. It is a highly illuminating experience designed for politically minded readers who want to understand how abstract philosophies can reshape the modern world at the expense of the middle class.
- Mood
- sobering
- urgent
- reflective
- Tone
- analytical
- critical
- cautionary
- informative
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- the cost of extreme individualism · ripple effects of ideology · ethics of capitalism · systemic inequality
- The writing
- Accessible and visually driven, utilizing the comic medium to distill complex economic and philosophical histories into clear, pointed narratives.
- The arc
- Begins with biographical curiosity and builds to a sobering frustration over the systemic consequences of unchecked self-interest.
- Who it's for
- Politically minded readers and fans of graphic non-fiction who want to untangle the ideological roots of modern economic crises.
Content notes
- economic instability
- political polarization
About the book
Using Rand's biography to illuminate the policies that led to the economic crash in the U.S. and in Europe and the global financial crisis of 2008, Cunningham shows how her philosophy continues to affect today's politics and policies, starting with her most noted disciple, economist Alan Greenspan (former chairman of the Federal Reserve). Cunningham also shows how right-wing conservatives, libertarians, and the Tea Party movement have co-opted Rand's teachings (and inherent contradictions) to promote personal gain and profit at the expense of the middle class.
Description from Open Library.
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