Comment

The Mandibles

a Family, 2029 - 2047
Dec 30, 2016JLMason rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
The future 2027 financial scenario that unfolds in this book is plausible: the collapse of the US economy due to its gigantic national debt leads to a lack of confidence in the US dollar by other countries and by its main debtor (China). But I don’t think the meek submission of US citizens to confiscation of their assets rings true. The story relies on societal apathy caused by prolonged liberal "nanny state" policies of entitlements that lead to a slow slide into lethargy and denial of reality, similar to the proverbial frog in a pot of water that is slowly heated to boiling. That said, the book certainly drives home the fragility of paper and electronic “wealth” on which our economies are based compared to hard assets like food, fuel, land, and even useful skills. There is humour in the book and it’s quite clever in imagining new words to reflect what’s happening in society 10 years hence like “boomerpoops" for the long-lived baby boomers sucking back Social Security and delaying inheritance to their frustrated descendants. Although the scenario painted is extreme and the characters are given to speechifying, the book makes you think about the world in a different light and is definitely worth a read. If you’re a knowledge worker you may want to brush up on your survival skills!