Direct

The Rise of the Middleman Economy and the Power of Going to the Source

By: Kathryn Judge

Narrated by: Megan Tusing

Length: 8 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

Axiom Award Gold Medalist for Business Theory

Finance expert, law professor, and fellow overwhelmed consumer Kathryn Judge investigates the surprising ways that middlemen have taken control of the economy at the expense of the rest of us, and provides practical guidance about how to regain control, find more meaning, and contribute to a more sustainable economy.

Over the past thirty years, middlemen have built intricate financial and retail empires capable of moving goods across the country and around the world—transforming the economy and our lives. Because of middlemen, we enjoy an unprecedented degree of choice and convenience. But the rise of the middleman economy comes at a steep price.

In Direct, Columbia law professor Kathryn Judge shows how overgrown middlemen became the backbone of modern capitalism and the cause of many of its ailments. Middlemen today shape what people do, how they invest, and what they consume. They use their troves of data to push people to buy more, and more expensive, products. They use their massive profits and expertise to lobby lawmakers, tilting the playing field in their favor. Drawing on a decade of research, Judge shows how to fight back: Go to the source.

The process of direct exchange—and the resulting ecosystem of makers and consumers, investors and entrepreneurs—fosters connection and community and helps promote a more just, resilient, and accountable economic system. Direct exchange reminds us that our actions always and inevitably impact others, as it rekindles an appreciation of our inherent interconnectedness. As Judge reveals in this much-needed book, direct exchange is both the cornerstone of the solution and a tool for revealing just how much is at stake in decisions about “through whom” to buy, invest and give.

©2022 Kathryn Judge (P)2022 HarperCollins Publishers

Not enough evidence provided to support conclusions

Great performance by the reader. The content of the book is another story. Some of the initial parts that discuss the mechanics of modern supply chains was neat to learn about, but it quickly devolved. Too much of it is anecdotal and unsupported by hard evidence provided in the chapters. Often the only real approach to justify claims in the book is appeal to emotion which is often logically fallacious. For much of the book it felt like the author went out of their way to talk more about social issues than economics, which could have been more insightful into how middlemen actually work rather than pulling out tired tropes of “big company bad”. Finally, it sounded like (and probably reads like it, too) a long sponsored content post you might see on social media from an influencer.