America the Possible

In this third volume of his award-winning American Crisis series, James Gustave Speth makes his boldest and most ambitious contribution yet. He looks unsparingly at the sea of troubles in which the United States now finds itself, charts a course through the discouragement and despair commonly felt today, and envisions what he calls America the Possible, an attractive and plausible future that we can still realize.

The book identifies a dozen features of the American political economy-the country's basic operating system-where transformative change is essential. It spells out the specific changes that are needed to move toward a new political economy-one in which the true priority is to sustain people and planet. Supported by a compelling "theory of change" that explains how system change can come to America, the book also presents a vision of political, social, and economic life in a renewed America. Speth envisions a future that will be well worth fighting for. In short, this is a book about the American future and the strong possibility that we yet have it in ourselves to use our freedom and our democracy in powerful ways to create something fine, a reborn America, for our children and grandchildren.

James Gustave Speth is Professor of Law at Vermont Law School. Previously he was Sara Shallenberger Brown Professor and Dean of the School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Yale University. He lives in Strafford, VT.

“This critically important work brings together in a selective, judicious and integrated way the best current thinking on the American political economic crisis and related policies.”—Herman Daly, Professor Emeritus, School of Public Policy, University of Maryland; author of Beyond Growth

“A brilliant, powerfully supported manifesto and an indispensable call to arms in the fight to build a democratic and ecologically sustainable system in the 21st century.”—Gar Alperovitz, author of America Beyond Capitalism: Reclaiming Our Wealth, Our Liberty and Our Democracy

"It is indeed possible to restore America to a true, durable, and decent prosperity and Gus Speth shows how. Cogent, clear, compelling and essential reading for liberals and conservatives; optimists and pessimists alike. We can and we must!"—David W. Orr, Oberlin College; author of Hope is an Imperative and Down to the Wire

“One of our most trusted elders in the environmental movement offers a sweeping and inspiring vision for how to transform a deeply ailing culture. A true gift of a book, at exactly the right moment.”— Naomi Klein, author of The Shock Doctrine

"In this hopeful and timely book, Gus Speth, one of the nation's leading environmental reformers turned system-critic, articulates what increasing numbers of Americans are feeling: a loss of faith in our market-centric, growth-oriented model. To jump-start a journey of transition, Speth presents a vision for comprehensive and deep change that is rooted in a sustaining economy and a new set of cultural values. Speth's profoundly humane sensibilities and common sense approach are sure to resonate with readers."—Juliet Schor, author of True Wealth: How and why millions of Americans are creating a time-rich, ecologically-light, small-scale, high-satisfaction economy

"Speth is a seasoned leader and passionate truth teller with impeccable establishment credentials. In America the Possible he presents a compelling case for economic transformation and spells out a policy agenda to achieve a secure and prosperous future for all."—David Korten, YES! Magazine board chair and author of Agenda for a New Economy and The Great Turning

"Gus Speth’s wonderfully comprehensive account of the American condition is a devastating indictment. Yet he lifts us up with his audacious vision of what can be."—William Greider, author of Come Home, America: The Rise and Fall (and Redeeming Promise) of Our Country