Capital Evolution - by Seth Levine & Elizabeth MacBride (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Business overtook government. Now what? The future of capitalism isn't left or right--it's forward.

In Capital Evolution: The New American Economy, Seth Levine and Elizabeth MacBride deliver a bold and timely reassessment of capitalism in America. Drawing on decades of experience in finance, journalism, and policy, Levine and MacBride argue that capitalism isn't the problem--it's the outdated neoliberal version we've been practicing that's failing us. From the rise of populism to the growing disillusionment among younger generations, the signs of strain are everywhere. But Levine and MacBride reveal how a new consensus--what they call Dynamic Capitalism--is already taking shape, one that balances profit with purpose, empowers the middle class, and addresses the urgent challenges of inequality and climate change.

Through compelling stories of leaders like Jamie Dimon, Dan Schulman, Lisa Green Hall, and Larry Fink, Capital Evolution shows how businesses, governments, and individuals can work together to create an economy that works for everyone. This book is a call to action for pragmatic leaders, policymakers, and citizens alike to embrace change, rebuild trust, and ensure capitalism remains the most dynamic force for progress the world has ever known. The future of capitalism isn't a choice between old ideologies--it's about evolving to meet the needs of a new era.

Capital Evolution is a compelling look at the changes taking hold in America's political system, information environment, and society, asking tough questions about the rising power of businesses in our economic system. Drawing on dozens of interviews with CEOs, academics, employees, and thought leaders, venture capitalist and author Seth Levine and journalist Elizabeth MacBride boldly challenge readers to take a hard look at our divisions and their impact on American economic supremacy.

Review Quotes

"Capital Evolution offers a timely and clear examination of the shifting landscape of American capitalism, blending rigorous research with compelling storytelling. By exploring the rise of populism, growing economic inequality, and the erosion of public trust in institutions, the authors make a powerful case for what they call 'Dynamic Capitalism'--a more inclusive, values-driven approach to business. This book is a call for action and essential reading for policymakers, CEOs, and anyone seeking to understand--and help shape--a more human version of capitalism."
--Dina Sherif, Executive Director, MIT Kuo Sharper Center for Prosperity and Entrepreneurship, and Senior Lecturer, MIT Sloan School of Management

"Levine and MacBride offer an important intellectual framing for our times. They show how entrepreneurial dynamism combined with a long-term value orientation can deliver a broadly prosperous American economy that works for everyone--something we all need! Thought-provoking!"
--Reid Hoffman, Cofounder, Manas AI and LinkedIn, and Partner, Greylock

"Economic opportunity is a bedrock of our democracy--and business, government, and societal leaders must work collaboratively to ensure a more balanced economy. Capital Evolution outlines a new way of thinking about our economy that could define American capitalism for generations to come. Seth and Elizabeth share invaluable insights for Americans looking to help protect our opportunity economy."
--Isabel Guzman, 27th Administrator, US Small Business Administration

"When you think about how much society has changed over the past 50 years, it's hard to believe the prevailing model of capitalism has largely stayed the same. In Capital Evolution, Elizabeth MacBride and Seth Levine probe the frontier where new models are emerging. While not all these approaches will succeed, some will, and our world may be a better place when they do."
--Seth Goldman, Cofounder, Just Ice Tea, Honest Tea, and PLNT Burger, and Chair of the Board, Beyond Meat

About the Author

A longtime venture capitalist, Seth Levine works with venture funds and companies around the globe. His day job is as a partner at Foundry, a venture capital firm based in Boulder, CO, which he cofounded in 2006, with nearly $4 billion in assets under management. Easily distracted and a passionate advocate for entrepreneurship, Seth also spends time as an advisor to entrepreneurs and policymakers--in the U.S. as well as in markets in the Middle East and Africa--to help promote entrepreneurship and economic development. He cofounded Pledge 1%, a global network of companies that have pledged equity, time, and product back to their local communities, and is a trustee of Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he helped found their entrepreneurship program as well as a popular student hackathon (the "Macathon"). A passionate cyclist, above-average skier, and general fan of all things outdoors, Seth lives in Colorado with his wife and their three children. He and Elizabeth are the co-authors of The New Builders.

Elizabeth MacBride is a journalist, author and consultant in finance, women's rights, and technology. She is an advocate for a fair, accessible financial system and policies that support women's economic power. She has written or edited for Quartz, Forbes Magazine, The Atlantic, Stanford Business Magazine, CNBC, BBC, Newsweek, and many others, and is the coauthor of two previous books: The Little Book of Robo Investing and The New Builders. As a journalist, her stories have been read by millions of people worldwide. Known for her courage and ability to reframe narratives, she has been under cover, reporting on the finances of the gun rights movement; written about entrepreneurship in developing markets; and worked in Dakar, Senegal, helping the military acquire strategic communications skills to counter disinformation.