Most Popular Books by Thomas Frank

From the bestselling author of What''s the Matter With Kansas, a scathing look at the standard-bearers of liberal politics -- a book that asks: what''s the matter with Democrats? It is a widespread belief among liberals that if only Democrats can continue to dominate national elections, if only those awful Republicans are beaten into submission, the country will be on the right course. But this is to fundamentally misunderstand the modern Democratic Party. Drawing on years of research and first-hand reporting, Frank points out that the Democrats have done little to advance traditional liberal goals: expanding opportunity, fighting for social justice, and ensuring that workers get a fair deal. Indeed, they have scarcely dented the free-market consensus at all. This is not for lack of opportunity: Democrats have occupied the White House for sixteen of the last twenty-four years, and yet the decline of the middle class has only accelerated. Wall Street gets its bailouts, wages keep falling, and the free-trade deals keep coming. With his trademark sardonic wit and lacerating logic, Frank''s Listen, Liberal lays bare the essence of the Democratic Party''s philosophy and how it has changed over the years. A form of corporate and cultural elitism has largely eclipsed the party''s old working-class commitment, he finds. For certain favored groups, this has meant prosperity. But for the nation as a whole, it is a one-way ticket into the abyss of inequality. In this critical election year, Frank recalls the Democrats to their historic goals-the only way to reverse the ever-deepening rift between the rich and the poor in America.

Becoming a more effective learner and boosting your productivity will help you earn better grades - but it''ll also cut down on your study time. This is a short, meaty book that will guide you through ten steps to achieving those goals: Pay better attention in class, Take more effective notes, Get more out of your textbooks, Plan like a general, Build a better study environment, Fight entropy and stay organized, Defeat Procrastination, Study smarter, Write better papers, Make group projects suck less, Whether you''re in college or high school, this book will probably help you. But not if you''re a raccoon. I want to be very clear about that; if you''re a raccoon, please buy a different book. This one will do absolutely nothing for you. How did you even learn to read, anyway?

In a book that has been raising hackles far and wide, the social critic Thomas Frank skewers one of the most sacred cows of the go-go ''90s: the idea that the new free-market economy is good for everyone. Frank''s target is "market populism"—the widely held belief that markets are a more democratic form of organization than democratically elected governments. Refuting the idea that billionaire CEOs are looking out for the interests of the little guy, he argues that "the great euphoria of the late nineties was never as much about the return of good times as it was the giddy triumph of one America over another." Frank is a latter-day Mencken, as readers of his journal The Baffler and his book The Conquest of Cool know. With incisive analysis, passionate advocacy, and razor-sharp wit, he asks where we are headed—and whether we''re going to like it when we get there.

A look at why the worst economy since the 1930s has brought about the revival of conservatism.

One of "our most insightful social observers"* cracks the great political mystery of our time: how conservatism, once a marker of class privilege, became the creed of millions of ordinary Americans With his acclaimed wit and acuity, Thomas Frank turns his eye on what he calls the "thirty-year backlash"—the populist revolt against a supposedly liberal establishment. The high point of that backlash is the Republican Party''s success in building the most unnatural of alliances: between blue-collar Midwesterners and Wall Street business interests, workers and bosses, populists and right-wingers. In asking "what ''s the matter with Kansas?"—how a place famous for its radicalism became one of the most conservative states in the union—Frank, a native Kansan and onetime Republican, seeks to answer some broader American riddles: Why do so many of us vote against our economic interests? Where''s the outrage at corporate manipulators? And whatever happened to middle-American progressivism? The questions are urgent as well as provocative. Frank answers them by examining pop conservatism—the bestsellers, the radio talk shows, the vicious political combat—and showing how our long culture wars have left us with an electorate far more concerned with their leaders'' "values" and down-home qualities than with their stands on hard questions of policy. A brilliant analysis—and funny to boot—What''s the Matter with Kansas? presents a critical assessment of who we are, while telling a remarkable story of how a group of frat boys, lawyers, and CEOs came to convince a nation that they spoke on behalf of the People. *Los Angeles Times

Looks at advertising during the 1960s, focusing on the relationship between the counterculture movement and commerce.

With his acclaimed wit and acuity, Thomas Frank here turns his eye on what he calls the ''thirty-year backlash'' - the common man''s revolt against a supposedly liberal establishment. He charts the Republican party''s success in building the most unnatural of alliances- between blue-collar Midwesterners and Wall Street business interests; between workers and bosses; between populists and right-wingers. Taking the state of Kansas as a paradigm, Frank describes how a place famous for its radicalism became one of the most conservative states in the union and, writing as a native Kansan and onetime Republican, seeks to answer some broader American riddles- why do so many of us vote against our economic and social interests? And whatever happened to middle-American progressivism? Frank reveals the true story, showing how voters have been persuaded to elevate ''values'' and down-home qualities - lavishly attributed to the current occupant of the White House - above hard questions of policy. A brilliant analysis, and funny to boot, What''s the Matter with America? - published in advance of the US Presidential elections - presents a critical assessment of the state of America today, while telling a remarkable story of how a group of frat boys, lawyers, and CEOs came to convince a nation that they spoke on behalf of the People.

An eye-opening account of populism, the most important - and misunderstood - movement of our time. Everything we think we know about populism is wrong. Today, populism is seen as a frightening thing, a term pundits use to describe the racist philosophy of Donald Trump and European extremists. But this is a mistake. The real story of populism is an account of enlightenment and liberation; it is the story of democracy itself, of its ever-widening promise of a decent life for all. Taking us from the tumultuous 1890s, when the radical left-wing US Populist Party fought plutocrats, to the triumphs of reformers under Roosevelt and Truman, Frank reminds us how much we owe to the populist ethos. Frank also shows that elitist groups have reliably detested populism, lashing out at working-class concerns; today''s moral panic in liberal circles is only the latest expression. Frank pummels the elites, revisits the movement''s provocative politics, and declares true populism to be the language of promise and optimism. People Without Power is a ringing affirmation of a movement that, Frank shows us, is not the problem of our times, but the solution. "With his usual verve, Frank skewers the elite voices of condescension that vilify the egalitarian and democratic strivings of working people. In so doing, he offers a passionate defence of populism, which he reveals as a deep and wide political tradition that remains as essential as ever for the hopes of a more just and equitable society." -Charles Postel, author of Equality- an American dilemma, 1866-1896 Political commentator Frank (Rendezvous with Oblivion) urges liberals to reclaim "the high ground of populism" in this fervent and acerbically witty call to action ... Frank blends diligent research with well-placed snark to keep readers turning the pages. Liberals will be outraged, enlightened, and entertained. -Publishers Weekly The author of What''s the Matter with Kansas? returns with a study of populism ... H e argues that historically populism has been focused on expanding opportunities for all, and he sees anti-populist sentiment today as being anti-working class. That will stir debate. -Library Journal

Tack and Richardson show you how to start with a batch of plain cupcakes, and turn them into fun creations such as robots, farm- or zoo-animals, and even a cookie village! --Adapted from back cover.

Frank argues that conservatives have taken pains to enshrine the free market as the permanent creed of state, selling off the government, deregulating some industries, defunding others, but always turning public policy into a private-sector bidding war.

There is a poetic expression here for anyone who has ever fallen in love, who has pined for someone, who has loved without being loved back, who has been cheated on, or who has felt confused in love. Many lines have a country music lyrical feel; they yearn for a simpler time and are not distracted by modernity. Personal portraits are peppered throughout the book with quotes about love and life. These needlessly pull attention away from the poetry.

This is the story of Thomas Frank Christian, the doubter. He was brought up on a farm, and influenced by his local pastor, he enters the minor seminary at the age of thirteen to study to become a Roman Catholic priest. We follow him through some ups and downs into the major seminary, where he is sexually attacked by his roommate. Tom goes on to be ordained. He serves six years in suburban parishes and spends many hours working with juveniles and adults who are in trouble with the law. He also begins to question many of the requirements of his church. Some of the questions turn into doubts, and he looks seriously at the need for obligatory celibacy. In his ecumenical contacts with married ministers and rabbis, he decides there is no justifiable reason not to be married and have a family. He goes to the archbishop and tells him he is ready to leave the priesthood. He gives the archbishop six months'' notice. Tom goes through a difficult documented process to leave the priesthood, but eventually, Pope Paul VI grants his release to become a layman. A week after resigning, he starts a career in the field of criminal justice as a probation counselor. He spends thirty-five years working in three states, writes three books in his field, and mediates victim-and-offender cases on 48 Hours, HBO, and National Public Radio. Tom is married in a private ceremony to prevent scandal. He and his wife have three children and five grandchildren. In 2019, they celebrate their fiftieth wedding anniversary. The book ends with a series of questions and doubts about modern-day religion.

From the prophetic author of the now-classic What’s the Matter with Kansas? and Listen, Liberal, an eye-opening account of populism, the most important—and misunderstood—movement of our time. Rarely does a work of history contain startling implications for the present, but in The People, No Thomas Frank pulls off that explosive effect by showing us that everything we think we know about populism is wrong. Today “populism” is seen as a frightening thing, a term pundits use to describe the racist philosophy of Donald Trump and European extremists. But this is a mistake. The real story of populism is an account of enlightenment and liberation; it is the story of American democracy itself, of its ever-widening promise of a decent life for all. Taking us from the tumultuous 1890s, when the radical left-wing Populist Party—the biggest mass movement in American history—fought Gilded Age plutocrats to the reformers’ great triumphs under Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman, Frank reminds us how much we owe to the populist ethos. Frank also shows that elitist groups have reliably detested populism, lashing out at working-class concerns. The anti-populist vituperations by the Washington centrists of today are only the latest expression. Frank pummels the elites, revisits the movement’s provocative politics, and declares true populism to be the language of promise and optimism. The People, No is a ringing affirmation of a movement that, Frank shows us, is not the problem of our times, but the solution for what ails us.

English summary: Among the numerous coevals of the 15th century who were eager to improve the condition of the church and the world, Nicholas of Cusa (1401-1464) is certainly one of the most interesting ones. He dedicated most of his lifetime to reforming, the marks of his activites being considerable: the Concile of Basle, his legation in Germany, his years as a bishop of Brixen, the foundation of a hospital in Kues, and his reform proposals as a cardinal in the Papal States. The broad horizon of the theologist, philosopher and canonist allows - beyond the reconstruction of single episodes - a comprehensive historical and theoretical approach to the problem of reform. This book binds together contributions of medieval historians and historians of philosophy. On the one hand it aims to expose the reform ideas and narratives standing behind Cusanus'' activities, including their contradictions, and on the other hand to further put these narratives in the context of their theological and philosophical implications, as they appear in his theoretical writings. German description: Unter den nicht wenigen Zeitgenossen des 15. Jahrhunderts, die sich der Verbesserung des Zustands von Kirche und Welt verschrieben hatten, ragt Nikolaus von Kues (1401-1464) als einer der interessantesten heraus. Der weite Horizont des Kanonisten, Theologen, Philosophen, Bischofs und Kardinals erlaubt einen umfassenden historischen und theoretischen Zugriff auf seine vielfaltigen Reformbemuhungen. Cusanus ist daher ein idealer Fuhrer, um Historiker und Philosophiehistoriker miteinander ins Gesprach zu bringen. Der Band vereinigt Beitrage aus beiden Disziplinen, mit dem Ziel, die hinter den Aktivitaten des Cusanus stehenden Reformideen und Reformnarrative mitsamt ihren Widerspruchen freizulegen und zu seinen theoretischen Schriften ins Verhaltnis zu setzen.

This study provides an interpretation of Augustine''s theological and exegetical development over the course of his career. On a general level, it demonstrates the impact of rhetorical culture on early Christian approaches to the Bible. It also demonstrates how Augustine''s interpretation of Paul was shaped by a persuasive rhetorical milieu. Finally, it shows the history of a critical text (Roman''s 7:24-25a) that Augustine employs from first to final writings.