Synopses & Reviews
Review
"Galbraith challenges America's complacency from the left as Buckley and Will attack liberalism's failings from the right. Those who value freedom must be grateful that both viewpoints continue to be heard. Annals collects some of Galbraith's most pointed essays from the 1970's: his Presidential address to the American Economic Association ('the most damaging feature of neo-classical and neo-Keynesian economics [is that] power—the ability of persons or institutions to bend others to their purposes—is removed from the subject'), his FBI file, 'Who was Thorstein Veblen?' and some engaging travel essays. On President Nixon's downfall, Galbraith argues Nixon believed 'that if he could persuade himself that something was virtuous or legitimate, he could persuade almost everybody else.' He jousts with powerful corporations and bankers, ridicules William Simon and 'Defenders of the Faith,' and polemicizes against the 'Global Strategic Mind.' All pervasive is his deep concern for the poor and the less privileged and a safer world order. His essay on 'Writing and Typing' offers playful good counsel to aspiring writers. His authority, brevity, and wit commend him even to his foes." Reviewed by Daniel Weiss, Virginia Quarterly Review (Copyright 2006 Virginia Quarterly Review)