The Common Good by Robert B. Reich Summary
Overview of The Common Good
In "The Common Good," Robert Reich confronts our fractured society and asks: Can America survive without shared values? A powerful manifesto for civic responsibility that challenges both conservatives and liberals to rediscover what unites us in an age of toxic tribalism.
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Key takeaways
When the Rules We Live By Started to Crumble
What happens when the unwritten rules that hold a society together begin to unravel? Picture the small American town where nobody locked their doors at night-not out of naivety, but because trust was woven into the fabric of daily life. That world feels increasingly distant. Over the past five decades, something fundamental has shifted in how Americans relate to one another and to the institutions that govern our lives. The common good-that invisible web of mutual obligation and shared values-has been systematically exploited by those with the power to do so. This isn't just about politics or economics; it's about the erosion of trust itself. When Martin Shkreli raised the price of a life-saving drug by 5,000 percent, defending his actions with "This is a capitalist society," he wasn't just being ruthless. He was revealing how far we've drifted from the understanding that we're bound together in something larger than individual gain. The real danger isn't one person's greed-it's that exploitation breeds more exploitation. Like the first thief in that unlocked-door town, early violators of social norms gain tremendous advantage. But once trust breaks, everyone else must adopt costly defensive measures, and the entire system degrades. We're now living in the aftermath of that degradation, and the question facing us is stark: Can we rebuild what's been lost?
The Political Battlefield Where Democracy Goes to Die
When Corporations Stopped Caring About Anyone But Shareholders
The Rigged Game and Its Devastating Consequences
Leadership as the Antidote to Exploitation
Reclaiming Truth in an Age of Lies
The Path Forward Begins With Each of Us
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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