Peterson - a lifelong Republican, chairman of the Blackstone Group, and former secretary of commerce under Nixon - shatters the myths with hard facts and a harrowing view of the twin budget deficit's real impact. Peterson sounds the warning bell and prescribes a set of detailed solutions which, if implemented early, will prevent the need for draconian measures later. [Farrar, Straus and Giroux]
Critic Reviews
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Outstanding
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Publishers Weekly
A self-described "fat cat," Peterson is willing to bear an "affluence test" for Social Security; he challenges leaders to revive JFK's call for civic responsibility.
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Outstanding
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Salon Farhad Manjoo
A dark and brilliant jeremiad... a tour de force; even if you disagree with Peterson's proposed solutions, the book makes it almost impossible to deny that we do have problems.
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Outstanding
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The New York Times Christopher Caldwell
With precision and punch, Mr. Peterson's Running on Empty lays out why we are in a lousy position to dig ourselves out of this hole.
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Outstanding
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Boston Globe Scot Lehigh
Must reading...Peterson affords the issue the seriousness it deserves.
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Favorable
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Los Angeles Times Howard Marks
[Peterson's] writing is compact, unusually clear and accessible, logically consistent and highly convincing. The procession of statistics sometimes seems mind-numbing and impossible to digest, but unlike many books, this one seems no longer than necessary.
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Mixed
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The New York Times Book Review Jonathan Chait
One of the reasons it's easy to get away with being irresponsible is that, no matter how irresponsible you are, the worst thing nonpartisan statesmen like Peterson will say is you're no worse than the other side.
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Mixed
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Washington Post Ted Van Dyk
Lively and plainly written...Peterson's diagnoses of the problem are more persuasive than his proposed remedies.
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