Author: Bernie Sanders
My Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍
My Review: This is a short read but well worth it. Bernie Sanders is a national treasure. I just wish more Americans would listen to him.
Description (Audible): “Oligarchy is a system in which a small number of extremely wealthy individuals control the economic, political, and media life of a nation. It is a system in which ordinary people have very little power to determine the future of their country. If you’re an American, it is the system in which you’re living. That must change. In the wealthiest nation on earth we must build a political movement that creates a government that represents all Americans, not just a handful of billionaires.”—Bernie Sanders
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Senator Bernie Sanders breaks down the unprecedented crises we face today in Trump’s America, as Trump undermines democracy at every turn—and how we can effectively fight back.
From the moment that Sanders began his Fighting Oligarchy tour in the early days of the Trump administration, it was clear that his message resonated with Americans across the political spectrum. Record-breaking crowds numbering in the tens of thousands showed up across the country. Large numbers of Americans, in red states and blue states, were prepared to stand up and fight back. In this book, he shows how we can continue that fight.
In a series of short, pointed chapters, Sanders explains how the United States today is an oligarchic society in which a small handful of multibillionaires exercise enormous economic and political power. He describes what it means when the very rich get much richer, while the majority of Americans struggle to pay the rent and put food on the table. And he observes how a corrupt campaign finance system allows billionaires in both parties to increasingly control our political system.
Sanders also discusses how, under Trump, we are rapidly moving toward authoritarianism–with a president who is undermining our democracy as he attacks Congress, the courts, the media, and law firms and universities in search of more and more power for himself. With relentless optimism and focused energy, Sanders reminds readers that true power rests with the people—and he presents a path forward to a reinvigorated democracy.
Description (ChatGPT): In Fight Oligarchy, Bernie Sanders delivers a sharp, urgent manifesto aimed at diagnosing and challenging the growing power of the ultra-wealthy in America. He argues that a small number of billionaires now dominate not just the economy, but politics and the media — a true oligarchic drift that threatens democratic governance.
Sanders supports his claims with data (e.g., wealth inequality, influence on elections), historical context, and policy proposals. He doesn’t just point out the problem — he offers concrete solutions: progressive taxation, stronger unions, campaign finance reform, and more democratic institutions.
Critically, reviewers note that while Sanders’s tone is familiar — his style is direct, moral, and speech-like — his ideas remain clear, commonsensical, and grounded in a deep belief in collective power. The book is short (around 160 pages), making its call to action both accessible and forceful.
However, some might feel it’s more of a rallying cry than a deeply original intellectual contribution — it leans on Sanders’s long-standing critiques rather than breaking radically new ground.
Bottom Line:
Fight Oligarchy is a compelling, no-nonsense call to mobilize against entrenched economic power. It works best as a primer for activists and anyone concerned about the future of American democracy — especially for people who already resonate with Sanders’s broader political philosophy.
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