Short Synopsis
The Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter, columnist, and bestselling author of In Fed We Trust dissects a topic that is fiercely debated today in the halls of Congress and the media, and yet is misunderstood by the American public.

Full Synopsis
In a sweeping narrative about the people and the politics behind the budget, Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter David Wessel looks at the 2011 fiscal year (which ended September 30) to see where all the money was actually spent, and why the budget process has grown wildly out of control. Through the eyes of key people—Jacob Lew, White House director of the Office of Management and Budget; Douglas Elmendorf, director of the Congressional Budget Office; Blackstone founder and former Commerce Secretary Pete Peterson; and more—Wessel gives listeners an inside look at the making of our unsustainable budget.

"Lloyd James is the perfect narrator for this short audiobook. . . . As he expertly varies inflection to hold listener interest, he adds the occasional dollop of irony to his performance. Together, Wessel and James have created a concise, accessible, and pretty scary guide to the nation's finances." ---AudioFile

"Accessible overview of America's contentious deficit politics by the Wall Street Journal's economics editor." ---Kirkus

"Wessel's unbiased, levelheaded approach will appeal to serious [listeners] who understand that the federal budget cannot be managed like a family budget." ---Library Journal

"Should be a first port of call for American voters sadly misinformed about their federal budget . . . Wessel's aim is to explain for a general audience the basics of the budget---where the money comes from and goes to---and to make the explanation interesting. He succeeds." ---Financial Times

"David Wessel's Red Ink is a wise and pithy introduction to the great economic issue of our time." ---N. Gregory Mankiw, professor of Economics, Harvard University

USA Today Bestseller

New York Times Bestseller