Books Abundance Book by Derek Thompson and Ezra Klein

"Abundance" by Derek Thompson and Ezra Klein is a paradigm-shifting nonfiction book that addresses why the United States has struggled with progress on large-scale projects like affordable housing, infrastructure, and climate change. It argues that current liberal policies, particularly since the 1970s, often prioritize blocking bad development over promoting good development, resulting in regulatory environments that stifle growth and innovation.

The authors propose an "Abundance Agenda" as a third-way policy framework that balances regulation with social advancement. They assert that for the U.S. to lead progress and reduce political polarization, liberals must embrace growth and effective governance by removing excessive regulatory barriers and encouraging ambitious building efforts.

The book diagnoses that many of today's crises, such as scarcity of housing, shortage of workers, and slow climate efforts, stem from previous generations' well-intended solutions that now impede progress. It encourages shifting mindset from scarcity to abundance, prioritizing building and creating new systems instead of preservation and stasis.

"Abundance" combines history, economics, and policy analysis to argue for visionary action that renews liberalism’s capacity to build a better future—driving innovation, affordability, and equitable growth, while managing tradeoffs between environmental protection, community interests, and economic expansion.

Overall, it is a forward-looking call to reinvent governance and political priorities around building abundance rather than fear, scarcity, and prevention. It has been recognized as an important and ambitious contribution to contemporary political thought.

Sources: New York Times, Wikipedia, Goodreads, Simon & Schuster summaries.