The Big Myth: How American Business Taught Us to Loathe Government and Love the Free Market

In 'The Big Myth', Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway delve into the history of market fundamentalism, detailing how business elites, trade associations, and media allies have shaped American orthodoxy to favor unfettered markets over government regulation.

The authors document campaigns to rewrite textbooks, combat unions, and defend child labor, and they analyze the roles of economists like Friedrich von Hayek and Milton Friedman.

The book argues that this ideology has led to significant societal issues, including the housing crisis, the opioid epidemic, climate destruction, and a poor response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

By understanding this history, the authors aim to inspire a future where markets serve rather than stifle democracy.