Book Review: The Price of Civilization; Jeffrey Sachs

In The Price of Civilization, Jeffrey Sachs asserts that America’s political system is broken and breaks down its causes and solutions into two sections. The first section establishes why and how America has come to this fault. He names unequal wealth distribution, mishandled globalization, public officials and special interests, partisanship, and a lack of efficacy among American citizens as the primary perpetrators of American virtue. These faults round out a perfect storm for American stagnation, to which Sachs declares the need for a panacea and explains how it can be achieved. The second section determines these proposals through more equitable economic policy (namely tax breaks for the middle class and higher rates for the rich), lessons to be learned from “free-market fallacies,” reprised ethical foundations in Congress, and the creation of a more “mindful society” amongst America’s people. This restructuring of American culture, Sachs argues, will guide the country back to its former prowess. Ultimately, he also states that these changes in economic, political, and social culture will benefit not just American culture but the globe as a whole. America’s position at the global epicenter bears a strong gravitational effect—one that America has a duty to protect and preserve.