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of experience in finance, journalism, and policy, Levine and MacBride argue that capitalism isn't the problem--it's the outdated neoliberal version we've been practicing that's failing us.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 to embrace change, rebuild trust, and ensure capitalism remains the most dynamic force for progress the world has ever known. The future 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 vision for achieving economic growth while revitalizing the middle class, promoting equity, protecting the planet, and overcoming political polarization."

--Suzanne DiBianca, Chief Impact Officer, Salesforce

"At PayPal I learned firsthand that the invisible hand of the market doesn't work for everyone. For too long, we've overlooked the plight of the working class and the result has been a society that is completely out of balance. In Capital Evolution, Seth and Elizabeth tell the compelling story of how and why capitalism needs to change. This is an important book for anyone who cares about the future of our economy and our democracy."

--Dan Schulman, former CEO, PayPal

"In Capital Evolution Seth Levine and Elizabeth MacBride explore the long strange trip by which America has arrived at such a bewildering and precarious stage in its history. And having documented that journey, they go on to present a vision of an alternative economic future--Dynamic Capitalism--and the political and economic building blocks required to achieve it. Their insights, observations, and recommendations are not only fascinating and provocative but amount to an urgent must-read blueprint for restoring faith in business-centered capitalism--and even American democracy itself."

--John R. Dearie, President, Center for American Entrepreneurship

"Tectonic shifts are reshaping capitalism. Capital Evolution brilliantly navigates this new world of complex change with fresh insight and sharp storytelling that is both pragmatic and optimistic. Levine and MacBride have written a blueprint for a more inclusive, resilient capitalism. Practical and forward thinking, this is essential reading."

--David Smick, Global Macroeconomic Strategist and New York Times Bestselling Author, The World Is Curved

"Capital Evolution is a clarion call for us to join the movement to reimagine capitalism--interrogating our past, confronting our present realities, and putting forward new forms and alternatives to our current form of capitalism. Levine and MacBride nuance the ways that capital has shaped our American society and call us to be intentional about our individual role in shaping, evolving, and reforming capitalism versus succumbing to its 'invisible hand.'"

--Nate Wong, Partner, The Bridgespan Group

"Over the past few centuries, capitalism has evolved to become the best economic system and wealth creation engine in the world. Seth and Elizabeth masterfully break down what is needed for its next evolution in this nuanced and timely book."

--Javier Saade, Managing Partner, Impact Master Holdings

"A courageous and compelling road map for how capitalism can evolve to meet today's challenges and shape a more resilient future. Levine and MacBride trace the roots and failures of neoliberalism--rising inequality, a decimated middle class, and deepening political divides--while presenting a hopeful alternative: dynamic capitalism. Defined as a renewed social consensus that prioritizes inclusivity, adaptability, and shared prosperity, this new framework centers long-ignored externalities like climate and equity as core business strategies. I finished the book feeling curious, excited, and ready to roll up my sleeves."

--Kate Williams, CEO, 1% for the Planet

"An important and courageous book . . . MacBride and Levine have captured a burgeoning movement among elite finance professionals. The authors offer a slew of possible financial solutions to aiding and sustaining the rapidly diminishing American middle class."

--Pia Sawhney, Cofounder and Partner Emeritus, Armory Square Ventures

"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.