Introduction: The Case for Optimism in Pessimistic Times
In an era dominated by doomscrolling, political polarization, and existential anxieties about climate change and economic inequality, Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson’s Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think arrives as a provocative counter-narrative. The book, published in March 2025, argues that despite surface appearances, humanity stands on the precipice of unprecedented prosperity—if we can overcome the self-imposed barriers preventing progress.
The authors—Klein, founder of Vox and prominent New York Times columnist, and Thompson, staff writer at The Atlantic and host of the “Plain English” podcast—bring complementary expertise to this ambitious project. Their collaboration merges Klein’s deep understanding of policy mechanisms with Thompson’s knack for identifying cultural and economic trends.
Meet the Authors: The Minds Behind the Manifesto
Ezra Klein
The policy wonk of the duo, Klein brings his experience as founder of Vox, former Washington Post blogger, and current New York Times opinion columnist. His 2020 book Why We’re Polarized established him as a leading analyst of American political dysfunction. In Abundance, he applies his analytical framework to the challenges of governance and productivity.
Derek Thompson
As a senior editor at The Atlantic and author of the 2021 bestseller Hit Makers, Thompson contributes his expertise in economics, psychology, and technology trends. His popular newsletter “Work in Progress” and podcast “Plain English” have made him one of the most influential explainers of complex economic ideas.
The Core Thesis: Understanding the “Abundance Agenda”
At its heart, Abundance presents what the authors term an “abundance agenda”—a policy framework designed to overcome what they identify as America’s central paradox: We have the resources and technological capacity to solve our biggest problems, but our systems and institutions prevent us from doing so.
Key Concept: The Abundance Agenda
The book’s central proposal—a shift from what the authors call “scarcity liberalism” to “abundance liberalism.” This means:
- Prioritizing building over blocking
- Focusing on supply-side solutions to progressive problems
- Streamlining regulations that have become counterproductive
- Investing in fundamental research and infrastructure
- Measuring success by outcomes rather than intentions
Part 1: The Promise (What’s Possible)
The opening section makes the case that technological and scientific advancements have put previously unimaginable solutions within reach:
Energy Revolution
The book details how solar power has become 30% cheaper than fossil fuels in many markets, with battery storage technology improving at a similar pace. They argue that with proper infrastructure investment, a carbon-neutral grid is achievable by 2040.
Biotech Breakthroughs
Klein and Thompson explore how CRISPR gene editing and mRNA vaccine technology could revolutionize medicine, potentially eliminating genetic diseases and creating personalized cancer treatments.
“The same mRNA platform that delivered COVID vaccines in record time could soon provide universal flu vaccines, HIV treatments, and even customized cancer therapies—if we let it.”
AI and Automation
Contrary to dystopian predictions, the authors argue AI will primarily augment human capabilities rather than replace them, citing examples where AI-assisted doctors make fewer diagnostic errors.
Part 2: The Perils (Why We’re Stuck)
The middle section presents a forensic examination of the systemic roadblocks preventing these advancements from being realized at scale:
The Regulatory Thicket
One of the book’s most compelling arguments concerns how well-intentioned regulations accumulate over time to create impossible barriers. They cite the example of a San Francisco apartment building that took 5 years to approve despite meeting all zoning requirements.
NIMBYism as a Political Force
The authors document how homeowner associations and local activists use environmental review processes to block housing developments, renewable energy projects, and infrastructure upgrades—often in the name of progressive values.
Case Study: The California High-Speed Rail Debacle
The book dedicates an entire chapter to California’s failed high-speed rail project as a cautionary tale. Originally approved in 2008 with a $33 billion budget and 2020 completion date, the project remains unfinished in 2025 with costs ballooning to over $100 billion. Klein and Thompson trace this failure to a perfect storm of environmental lawsuits, local opposition, and procurement rules that prioritized process over results.
The Innovator’s Dilemma in Government
Drawing parallels to Clayton Christensen’s business classic, the authors argue that government agencies become risk-averse over time, prioritizing compliance over innovation.
Part 3: The Path Forward (Solutions)
The final section offers concrete policy proposals for achieving abundance:
1. Housing Abundance
The book’s most detailed recommendations concern housing policy:
- Federal preemption of local zoning laws near transit corridors
- “Use it or lose it” requirements for building permits
- Tax incentives for cities that meet housing growth targets
2. Green Energy Acceleration
Proposals include:
- Streamlining environmental reviews for renewable projects
- National “clean energy corridors” for transmission lines
- Reforming nuclear regulatory processes
3. Education for an Innovative Economy
The authors advocate shifting education from credentialing to skill-building:
- Expanding apprenticeship programs
- Federal “ARPA for Education” research initiative
- Outcome-based funding for universities
Critical Reception: Praise and Controversy
Praise from Notable Reviewers
- David Brooks (The New York Times): “Spectacular… Klein and Thompson have written the most important policy book of the decade. Their comprehensive indictment of our current dysfunctions is matched only by the clarity of their path forward.”
- Fareed Zakaria (CNN): “A masterclass in connecting seemingly disparate dots. The chapter on how pandemic-era regulatory rollbacks enabled vaccine development should be required reading for every policymaker.”
- Annie Lowrey (The Atlantic): “The most compelling case I’ve read for why progressives should embrace supply-side solutions to progressive problems.”
Criticisms and Concerns
- Zephyr Teachout (Washington Monthly): “Dangerously naive about corporate power. Their faith in ‘permissionless innovation’ could easily become a Trojan horse for deregulation that benefits the already powerful.”
- Samuel Moyn (Yale Law School): “Focuses too narrowly on the concerns of urban knowledge workers while paying scant attention to rural America or the global South.”
- Mariana Mazzucato (UCL): “Underestimates the role of public investment in creating the very technologies they celebrate. Markets alone didn’t give us mRNA vaccines or solar panels.”
The “Supply-Side Progressivism” Debate
Noah Smith’s characterization of the book’s thesis as “supply-side progressivism” sparked significant discussion in policy circles. This framing suggests that progressives should focus as much on increasing supply (of housing, clean energy, healthcare) as on redistribution—a marked departure from traditional progressive priorities.
Controversial Proposal: The “YIMBY New Deal”
Perhaps the book’s most debated suggestion is a federal “Yes In My Backyard” (YIMBY) program that would:
- Withhold infrastructure funding from cities that don’t meet housing targets
- Create a federal right to build multi-family housing in single-family zones
- Establish “abundance zones” with streamlined permitting
While praised by urban economists, this proposal has faced fierce opposition from both progressive activists concerned about gentrification and conservative localists who oppose federal overreach.
Final Assessment: Is “Abundance” the Roadmap We Need?
Strengths
- Bold, original synthesis of ideas from across disciplines
- Concrete policy proposals rather than vague platitudes
- Engaging writing style that makes complex ideas accessible
- Timely publication during a period of political realignment
Limitations
- Underestimates corporate resistance to productive investment
- Gives short shrift to rural and international perspectives
- Some proposals may require constitutional changes
Ultimately, Abundance succeeds not by providing all the answers, but by asking the right questions—challenging both progressive and conservative orthodoxies while offering a plausible path forward. Whether one agrees with all their solutions, Klein and Thompson have made an invaluable contribution by reframing our policy debates around building rather than blocking, possibility rather than limitation.
As the authors conclude: “The future isn’t something that happens to us—it’s something we build. The only question is whether we’ll build enough.”
Further Reading: Readers interested in these topics might also enjoy Matthew Yglesias’s One Billion Americans, Mariana Mazzucato’s Mission Economy, or Alain Bertaud’s Order Without Design.
Publication Note: This review is based on the first hardcover edition (March 2025). Page numbers refer to the Simon & Schuster printing.