Synopses & Reviews
In a riveting account based on new documents and interviews with more than 400 sources on both sides of the aisle, award-winning reporter Michael Grunwald reveals the vivid story behind President Obamaand#8217;s $800 billion stimulus bill, one of the most important and least understood pieces of legislation in the history of the country. Grunwaldand#8217;s meticulous reporting shows how the stimulus, though reviled on the right and the left, helped prevent a depression while jump-starting the presidentand#8217;s agenda for lasting change. As ambitious and far-reaching as FDRand#8217;s New Deal, the Recovery Act is a down payment on the nationand#8217;s economic and environmental future, the purest distillation of change in the Obama era. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;The stimulus has launched a transition to a clean-energy economy, doubled our renewable power, and financed unprecedented investments in energy efficiency, a smarter grid, electric cars, advanced biofuels, and green manufacturing. It is computerizing Americaand#8217;s pen-and-paper medical system. Its Race to the Top is the boldest education reform in U.S. history. It has put in place the biggest middle-class tax cuts in a generation, the largest research investments ever, and the most extensive infrastructure investments since Eisenhowerand#8217;s interstate highway system. It includes the largest expansion of antipoverty programs since the Great Society, lifting millions of Americans above the poverty line, reducing homelessness, and modernizing unemployment insurance. Like the first New Deal, Obamaand#8217;s stimulus has created legacies that last: the worldand#8217;s largest wind and solar projects, a new battery industry, a fledgling high-speed rail network, and the worldand#8217;s highest-speed Internet network. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Michael Grunwald goes behind the scenesand#8212;sitting in on cabinet meetings, as well as recounting the secret strategy sessions where Republicans devised their resistance to Obamaand#8212;to show how the stimulus was born, how it fueled a resurgence on the right, and how it is changing America. andlt;Iandgt;The New New Deal andlt;/Iandgt;shatters the conventional Washington narrative and it will redefine the way Obamaand#8217;s first term is perceived.
Review
“Michael Grunwald is one of our generation's most original and tireless journalists—a reporter who is allergic to received wisdom, a writer with an uncommon talent for illuminating hidden truths. So it is a delight, but not a surprise, that The New New Deal demolishes cliches and vividly reframes our thinking about President Obama and his stimulus package through a gripping narrative." < b=""> John Harris <>
Review
“One of the year’s deepest books” —Politico
Review
“A must-read book” —PoliticalWire.com
Review
and#8220;Thereand#8217;s plenty here for everyone to get aflutter about all over again in this riveting account of President Obama's stimulus bill. Grunwald, a andlt;iandgt;Timeandlt;/iandgt; magazine senior correspondent, provides captivating background history on the stimulus and how it may prove to be a far greater deal than the one FDR famously launched.and#8221; and#8212;andlt;bandgt;andlt;iandgt;Chicago Tribuneandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;andlt;iandgt;andlt;/iandgt;
Review
and#8220;Mammoth in scope. . . . Throughout, Grunwald keeps his tone snappy and readable, while consistently grounding the political story of the Recovery Act in its real impact on everyday Americans. The result is an impressive book about the startling gap between facts and media spin.and#8221; and#8212;andlt;bandgt;andlt;iandgt;Publishers Weeklyandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;
Review
and#8220;A cogent reality check of President Obamaand#8217;s Recovery Act. . . . A pointed, in-the-trenches study whose thrust will be borne out with time.and#8221; and#8212;andlt;bandgt;andlt;iandgt;Kirkus Reviewsandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;
Review
“The New New Deal is the most interesting book that has been published about the Obama administration." < -="" b="" -=""> - < -="" i="" -=""> - The Economist - < -="" -=""> - < -="" -="">
Review
“
The New New Deal is the most interesting book that has been published about the Obama administration. Even Republicans should read it.” —
The Economist
“One of the year’s deepest books” —Politico
“A must-read book” —PoliticalWire.com
"One of the two best books ever written about government." —NationalMemo
“There’s plenty here for everyone to get aflutter about all over again in this riveting account of President Obama's stimulus bill. Grunwald, a Time magazine senior correspondent, provides captivating background history on the stimulus and how it may prove to be a far greater deal than the one FDR famously launched.” —Chicago Tribune
“Grunwald knows more about the stimulus than pretty much anyone else on the planet.” —Grist.org
“Grunwald makes the case for Obama's stimulus bill more vividly and persuasively than the president ever did...Grunwald peppers this Washington drama with dialogue and characters in action, which makes it a rollicking good read." —USNews.com
“Mammoth in scope. . . . Throughout, Grunwald keeps his tone snappy and readable, while consistently grounding the political story of the Recovery Act in its real impact on everyday Americans. The result is an impressive book about the startling gap between facts and media spin.” —Publishers Weekly
“A cogent reality check of President Obama’s Recovery Act. . . . A pointed, in-the-trenches study whose thrust will be borne out with time.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Michael Grunwald is one of our generation's most original and tireless journalists—a reporter who is allergic to received wisdom, a writer with an uncommon talent for illuminating hidden truths. So it is a delight, but not a surprise, that The New New Deal demolishes cliches and vividly reframes our thinking about President Obama and his stimulus package through a gripping narrative. Even if everyone doesn't agree with Grunwald's provocative conclusions, every serious reader will see his book as a vindication of serious journalism, at a time when we need it.” —John Harris, Politico
Review
"Exceptional...The single best book on the inner workings of the Obama administration. ... Grunwald points out how everything you think you know about the stimulus is wrong." < -="" b="" -=""> - < -="" i="" -=""> - The Guardian - < -="" -=""> - < -="" -="">
Review
"The New New Deal is not only the best book about the administration and its challenges, but ... one of the two best books ever written about government." < -="" b="" -=""> - < -="" i="" -=""> - The National Memo - < -="" -=""> - < -="" -="">
Review
"Grunwald peppers this Washington drama with dialogue and characters in action, which makes it a rollicking good read." < -="" b="" -=""> - < -="" i="" -=""> - US News - < -="" -=""> - < -="" -="">
Review
"Engrossing ... It is a full detailed, careful argument, based on detailed, careful reporting." < -="" b="" -=""> - < -="" i="" -=""> - The New York Review of Books - < -="" -=""> - < -="" -="">
Review
andlt;divandgt;"One of the year's deepest books" --andlt;bandgt;andlt;iandgt;Politicoandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;andlt;/divandgt;
Review
andlt;divandgt;"A must-read book" --andlt;bandgt;PoliticalWire.comandlt;/bandgt;andlt;/divandgt;
Review
"andlt;Iandgt;The New New Dealandlt;/Iandgt; is the most interesting book that has been published about the Obama administration. Even Republicans should read it."
Review
and#8220;Michael Grunwald is one of our generation's most original and tireless journalistsand#8212;a reporter who is allergic to received wisdom, a writer with an uncommon talent for illuminating hidden truths. So it is a delight, but not a surprise, that andlt;iandgt;The New New Dealandlt;/iandgt; demolishes clichand#233;s and vividly reframes our thinking about President Obama and his stimulus package through a gripping narrative. Even if everyone doesn't agree with Grunwald's provocative conclusions, every serious reader will see in Grunwaldand#8217;s book a vindication of serious journalism, at a time when we need it.and#8221; andlt;BRandgt; and#8212;andlt;bandgt;John Harris, andlt;Iandgt;Politico andlt;BRandgt; andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;
Review
and#8220;One of the yearand#8217;s deepest booksand#8221; and#8212;andlt;bandgt;andlt;iandgt;Politicoandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;
Review
and#8220;A must-read bookand#8221; and#8212;andlt;bandgt;PoliticalWire.comandlt;/bandgt;
Synopsis
The New, New Deal is a riveting story about change in the Obama era--and an essential handbook for voters who want the truth about the president, his record, and his enemies.
In a riveting account based on new documents and interviews with more than 400 sources on both sides of the aisle, award-winning reporter Michael Grunwald reveals the vivid story behind President Obama's $800 billion stimulus bill, one of the most important and least understood pieces of legislation in the history of the country. Grunwald's meticulous reporting shows how the stimulus, though reviled on the right and the left, helped prevent a depression while jump-starting the president's agenda for lasting change. As ambitious and far-reaching as FDR's New Deal, the Recovery Act is a down payment on the nation's economic and environmental future, the purest distillation of change in the Obama era.
The stimulus has launched a transition to a clean-energy economy, doubled our renewable power, and financed unprecedented investments in energy efficiency, a smarter grid, electric cars, advanced biofuels, and green manufacturing. It is computerizing America's pen-and-paper medical system. Its Race to the Top is the boldest education reform in U.S. history. It has put in place the biggest middle-class tax cuts in a generation, the largest research investments ever, and the most extensive infrastructure investments since Eisenhower's interstate highway system. It includes the largest expansion of antipoverty programs since the Great Society, lifting millions of Americans above the poverty line, reducing homelessness, and modernizing unemployment insurance. Like the first New Deal, Obama's stimulus has created legacies that last: the world's largest wind and solar projects, a new battery industry, a fledgling high-speed rail network, and the world's highest-speed Internet network.
Michael Grunwald goes behind the scenes--sitting in on cabinet meetings, as well as recounting the secret strategy sessions where Republicans devised their resistance to Obama--to show how the stimulus was born, how it fueled a resurgence on the right, and how it is changing America. The New New Deal shatters the conventional Washington narrative and it will redefine the way Obama's first term is perceived.
Synopsis
The New, New Deal is a riveting story about change in the Obama era—and an essential handbook for voters who want the truth about the president, his record, and his enemies.Time senior correspondent Michael Grunwald tells the secret history of the stimulus bill, the purest distillation of Change We Can Believe In, a microcosm of Obama’s policy successes and political failures. Though it is reviled by the right and rejected by the left, it really is a new New Deal, larger than FDR’s and just as transformative. It prevented an imminent depression, while jump-starting Obama’s long-term agenda.
The stimulus is pouring $90 billion into clean energy, reinventing the way America is powered and fueled; it includes unprecedented investments in renewables, efficiency, electric cars, a smarter grid, cleaner coal, and more. It’s carrying health care into the digital era. Its Race to the Top initiative may be the boldest education reform in U.S. history. It produced the biggest middle-class tax cuts in a generation, a broadband initiative reminiscent of rural electrification, and an overhaul of the New Deal’s unemployment insurance system. It’s revamping the way government addresses homelessness, fixes infrastructure, and spends money.
Grunwald reveals how Republicans have obscured these achievements through obstruction and distortion. The stimulus launched a genuine national comeback. It also saved millions of jobs, while creating legacies that could rival the Hoover Dam: the world’s largest wind farm, a new U.S. battery industry, a new high-speed rail network, the world’s highest-speed Internet network.
Its main legacy, like the New Deal’s, will be change.
About the Author
andlt;bandgt;Michael Grunwaldandlt;/bandgt;, a andlt;iandgt;Time andlt;/iandgt;senior correspondent, has won the George Polk Award for national reporting, the Worth Bingham Award for investigative reporting, and many other prizes. andlt;iandgt;The Washington Postandlt;/iandgt; called the first book, andlt;iandgt;The Swampandlt;/iandgt;, andldquo;a brilliant work of research and reportage.andrdquo; He lives in Florida.