Abundance by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson

    This is the first book that I've ever listened to, instead of read. Abundance is a very popular book right now for the challenge that it offers to liberals while offering an olive branch to conservatives. Klein and Thompson put forward ideas that seek to diminish economic inequalities by expanding the pie, rather than dividing it up differently. Left-wing critics will say that it fails to actually diminish inequality, and right-wing critics will say that the solutions really only apply to major cities, but I think that the "Abundance agenda" is a lot more positive than negative. It is important for the country to be able to build, whether in manufacturing, housing, transportation, or whatever is needed. I like that the book has an optimistic feel, and I've become a really big fan of Ezra Klein this year.

    I liked the audiobook as a format for the same reason I like podcasts, but I have to say that it is far inferior to reading a book and being able to take notes on it. I don't remember nearly as much of this as I would if it were a book that I could revisit. I will also say I far preferred Klein's parts of the book that he read to the ones that Thompson read. Thompson sounded patronizing to me. Anyway, it was a really good book, and regardless of their voices, I thought they put forth good ideas and a good new way of thinking about how we should evaluate ideas. The country will be better off if we embrace an abundance mentality than a scarcity mentality.