Free Lunch - by David Cay Johnston (Paperback)

About the Book

Bestselling author and acclaimed journalist Johnston shows how for the past three decades, the government offered favorable treatment to certain groups. But for every subsidy and regulatory change that helps one person, another pays the price.

Book Synopsis

Free Lunch answers the great mystery of our time: How did our strong and growing economy give way to job uncertainty, debt, bankruptcy, and fear for millions of Americans? Acclaimed reporter David Cay Johnston reveals how government policies and spending have reached deep into the wallets of the many to benefit the top 1% of the wealthiest.

He shows exactly who has been getting free lunches from the government?from $100 million to Warren Buffett, to $1.3 billion to the owners of the Yankees and Mets. But of course there's really no such thing as a free lunch. The taxpayer always picks up the bill. With his in depth reporting, vivid stories, and sharp analysis, Johnston reveals the forces that shape our everyday economic lives?and shows us how we can finally make things better.

Review Quotes

?A journalistic missile launched against the myth that those who mooch off the government are mostly on the lower rungs? This is a provocative, highly readable and well-documented work.?
?"South Florida Sun-Sentinel"
?As an investigative reporter, Johnston is a big-game hunter. He skewers popular plutocrats like Buffett, digs up the dirt on unsavory sources of Paris Hilton's fortune and details Apple executive Steve Jobs's backdated stock options thievery.?
?"The Nation"
?If you?re concerned about congressional earmarks, hedge fund tax breaks, subsidies to sports teams, K Street lobbyists, the state of our health-care system, to say nothing of the cavernous gap between rich and poor, you?ll read this fine book?as I did?with a growing sense of outrage.?
?John C. Bogle, founder and former chairman, The Vanguard Group
?Johnston is an indefatigable reporter whose work recalls the muckraking epics of the Progressive era.?
?"Portland Oregonian"


aA journalistic missile launched against the myth that those who mooch off the government are mostly on the lower rungsa] This is a provocative, highly readable and well-documented work.a
a"South Florida Sun-Sentinel"
aAs an investigative reporter, Johnston is a big-game hunter. He skewers popular plutocrats like Buffett, digs up the dirt on unsavory sources of Paris Hiltonas fortune and details Apple executive Steve Jobsas backdated stock options thievery.a
a"The Nation"
aIf youare concerned about congressional earmarks, hedge fund tax breaks, subsidies to sports teams, K Street lobbyists, the state of our health-care system, to say nothing of the cavernous gap between rich and poor, youall read this fine bookaas I didawith a growing sense of outrage.a
aJohn C. Bogle, founder and former chairman, The Vanguard Group
aJohnston is an indefatigable reporter whose work recalls the muckraking epics of the Progressive era.a
a"Portland Oregonian"
aAn engaging look at how the superrich consistentlya and outrageouslyarely on public handouts while preaching about free markets and wasteful entitlement programs all the way to the bank.a
a"Mother Jones"

aIf youare concerned about congressional earmarks, stock options (especially backdated options), hedge fund tax breaks, abuse of eminent domain, subsidies to sports teams, K Street lobbyists, the state of our health-care system, to say nothing of the cavernous gap between rich and poor, youall read this fine bookaas I didawith a growing sense of outrage. "Free Lunch" makes it clear that itas high time for aWe the Peoplea to stand up and be counted.a
aJohn C. Bogle, founder and former chairman, The Vanguard Group
aWith clarity, conciseness, and cool, fact-saturated analysis, Mr. Johnston, the premier investigative reporter on how industry and commerce shift risks and costs to taxpayers, sends the ultimate message to all Americansaeither we demand to have a say or we will continue to pay, pay, and pay.a
aRalph Nader

If youre concerned about congressional earmarks, stock options (especially backdated options), hedge fund tax breaks, abuse of eminent domain, subsidies to sports teams, K Street lobbyists, the state of our health-care system, to say nothing of the cavernous gap between rich and poor, youll read this fine bookas I didwith a growing sense of outrage. "Free Lunch" makes it clear that its high time for We the People to stand up and be counted.
John C. Bogle, founder and former chairman, The Vanguard Group
With clarity, conciseness, and cool, fact-saturated analysis, Mr. Johnston, the premier investigative reporter on how industry and commerce shift risks and costs to taxpayers, sends the ultimate message to all Americanseither we demand to have a say or we will continue to pay, pay, and pay.
Ralph Nader

About the Author

David Cay Johnston is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who has been called the "de facto chief tax enforcement officer of the United States." His most recent books, Perfectly Legal and Free Lunch, were New York Times bestsellers. He was a reporter for the New York Times for 13 years and now writes a column for Reuters. He also teaches at the Syracuse University College of Law and the Whitman School of Management, and he was recently elected to be board president of Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc. He lives in Rochester, New York. Visit davidcayjohnston.com.