Drift

The Unmooring of American Military Power

By: Rachel Maddow

Narrated by: Rachel Maddow

Length: 7 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

The #1 New York Times bestseller that charts America’s dangerous drift into a state of perpetual war. "One of my favorite ideas is, never to keep an unnecessary soldier," Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1792. Neither Jefferson nor the other Found­ers could ever have envisioned the modern national security state, with its tens of thousands of "privateers"; its bloated Department of Homeland Security; its rust­ing nuclear weapons, ill-maintained and difficult to dismantle; and its strange fascination with an unproven counterinsurgency doctrine.

Written with bracing wit and intelligence, Rachel Maddow's Drift argues that we've drifted away from America's original ideals and become a nation weirdly at peace with perpetual war, with all the financial and human costs that entails. To understand how we've arrived at such a dangerous place, Maddow takes us from the Vietnam War to today's war in Afghanistan, along the way exploring the disturbing rise of executive authority, the gradual outsourcing of our war-making capabilities to private companies, the plummeting percentage of American families whose children fight our constant wars for us, and even the changing fortunes of G.I. Joe. She offers up a fresh, unsparing appraisal of Reagan's radical presidency. Ultimately, she shows us just how much we stand to lose by allowing the priorities of the national security state to overpower our political discourse.

Sensible yet provocative, dead serious yet seri­ously funny, Drift will reinvigorate a "loud and jangly" political debate about how, when, and where to apply America's strength and power--and who gets to make those decisions.

©2012 Rachel Maddow (P)2012 Random House

Critic reviews

"Thank Ms. Maddow for picking this and every other fight that Drift provokes. It will be a smarter public debate than the kinds we're used to." (Janet Maslin, New York Times)

"Maddow’s distinctive voice in Drift is highly intelligent, often incredulous and intermittently and humorously profane...Her thesis, which is passionately and effectively articulated, remind[s] us of how far we have drifted from linking the sacrifices of our armed forces around the world to the citizens at home they so selflessly serve… Maddow…[has] provided readers with a timely and perhaps necessary provocation to examine the far-reaching consequences of the American way of war." (Gordon M. Goldstein, Washington Post)

"Crosses partisan lines and deals with issues that deserve a healthy debate...A compelling, intelligent read filled with Maddow's trademark wit." (Mary Houlihan, Chicago Sun-Times)

Maddow the magnifcent

She is so good and does a superb job on explaining what she wants us to understand!

The clarity of military workings

While I am sure that I disagree with partisan views of Maddow and others, the clarity of message and backing facts was really fascinating.

The political way to twist the military

A great narrative of how politicians have managed to restructure the military to meet their needs. It is from the perspective of 2012 when it was published. It would be great to have an updated version of the story.

Very relevant

Glad I’ve read this now as it is still and quite possibly even more important. Maddow covers her subject as she always does with in-depth knowledge and engaging and sometimes weird and humorous stories to add life to what could be a dry subject.

shocking information revealed

Anything Ms. Maddow puts her hands to will always be ex̌cellent !!!!! She tackles tough subjects and leaves no stone unturned!

Outstanding!!

Thorough, thoughtful and well researched. I am an better informed citizen thanks to Rachel Maddow!

A compelling argument, largely free of ideology

What made the experience of listening to Drift the most enjoyable?

The author's distinctive voice and personality greatly enhance the listening experience. One could say that the reading is definitive.

What did you like best about this story?

It is not a story, of course, but an argument about how our nation has "drifted" far from its original ideals and has somewhat complacently settled into an acceptance of perpetual war. Often the hard facts of our national suffering and sacrifice are kept from us, and even more often we just do not see this or get involved.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

"We'll all go together when we go." Perhaps that's too flippant, but Maddow does in fact evoke "Doctor Strangelove" in her final chapters.

Any additional comments?

Judging by the hate-filled comments about this book on some other websites, it would seem that all one has to say is "Rachel Maddow" and people of a certain political persuasion will begin foaming at the mouth. It's clear to me that they have most certainly not read "Drift," for Maddow's argument is clearly and logically presented, supported by facts and remarkably free of leftist ideology.

This is not to say that her distinctive brand of sarcasm is absent from the text, but her aim is not an attack on Republicans or Democrats, but at a generally misguided use and understanding of our military that transcends party lines. My only criticism would be that the book is not longer and more detailed. It is worthwhile for those who have forgotten all about it to revisit the absurd invasion of Granada and the immoral and illegal Iran-Contra scandal during the Reagan years. And it will perhaps come as a surprise to many that several astounding near nuclear disasters have been avoided only by a miracle.

As Tom Brokow has said, this books is "a long overdue and provocative examination of the abuses, excesses and just plain foolish elements in our national security systems. These are issues that deserve our attention."

A great understanding of the military

What made the experience of listening to Drift the most enjoyable?

if I didn't understand the concept occasionally return and listened to the sentence or paragraph again.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Drift?

The understanding of how the military-industrial complex uses the political arena to receive billions of dollars for weapons that we don't need or are obsolete.

Have you listened to any of Rachel Maddow’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I watch Rachel Maddow on on MS NBC on occasions she's very bright intelligent and well-informed.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

My only extreme reaction was the stupidity of the American people to allow the military-industrial complex to rip us off.

Any additional comments?

I didn't think I would like listening to books on my cell phone this is the 3rd book that I've listen and I have really enjoyed it.

Scary Book, I wish I shared her optimism

Would you consider the audio edition of Drift to be better than the print version?

The ability of having Rachel provide the vocal nuance adds a great deal to this book

What was one of the most memorable moments of Drift?

Description of the Iran Contra affair

What about Rachel Maddow’s performance did you like?

Wry humor

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book made me very concerned for where we are going as a country, and how we have an entire generation of Americans who think that war is a normal way of life and an acceptable first option in solving conflicts

Awesome Book, Way fun to hear read by Maddow

Would you consider the audio edition of Drift to be better than the print version?

Yes, because hearing it in Rachel's Voice was as fun as watching her show.. she has the same quality in her reading as the show and I LOVE both

What was one of the most memorable moments of Drift?

The Epilogue was really cool.. how she brought the whole book content in comparison to her her real life experiences

Any additional comments?

A great book for a fan of Rachel Maddow.. and also those who don't like her. The information in this book is powerful.