Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism by Anne Case & Angus Deaton Summary
Overview of Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism
Nobel Prize-winning economists expose America's hidden epidemic: rising suicide, addiction, and despair among white working-class Americans. Challenging capitalism's failures while sparking heated debate about race and inequality, this bestseller forces us to confront our economic system's deadly consequences.
Similar books to Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism
Feel the book through the author's voice
Turn knowledge into engaging, example-rich insights
Capture key ideas in a flash for fast learning
Enjoy the book in a fun and engaging way
Key takeaways
When Death Becomes the Only Escape
What happens when an entire generation starts dying younger than their parents? In 2015, two Princeton economists uncovered something that shouldn't exist in modern America: middle-aged white people without college degrees were dying at increasing rates-not from cancer or heart disease, but from suicide, drug overdoses, and alcohol-related liver disease. This wasn't a blip. Between 1999 and 2017, roughly 600,000 Americans died these "deaths of despair"-a death toll rivaling the entire AIDS epidemic. While other wealthy nations continued their steady march toward longer lives, America broke the pattern. The mortality reversal didn't strike everyone equally. It carved a brutal line through American society based on a single factor: whether you held a bachelor's degree. For the 62% of Americans without one, life expectancy began moving backward-an occurrence unprecedented in peacetime modern history. What caused this quiet catastrophe unfolding in plain sight?
The Invisible Divide: Two Americas, One Country
The Trifecta of Despair: Pills, Bottles, and Bullets
When Your Body Keeps the Score
The Meritocracy Trap
The Great Unraveling: Work, Family, Community
The Healthcare Heist and the Path Forward
Quick Summary Mode - Read or listen to Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism Summary in 9 Minutes
Break down key ideas from Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism into bite-sized takeaways to understand how innovative teams create, collaborate, and grow.
Flash Card Mode - Top 10 Insights from Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism in a Nutshell
Distill Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism into rapid-fire memory cues that highlight Pixar’s principles of candor, teamwork, and creative resilience.
Fun Mode - Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism Lessons Told Through 26-Min Stories
Experience Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism through vivid storytelling that turns Pixar’s innovation lessons into moments you’ll remember and apply.
Personalize Mode - Read or listen to Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism Summary in 0 Minutes
Ask anything, pick the voice, and co-create insights that truly resonate with you.
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
Get the Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism summary as a free PDF or EPUB. Print it or read offline anytime.