Presents a counterintuitive assessment of the financial crisis to identify what the author believes were its actual causes, outlining recommended changes for strengthening the nation's economy.

Introduction -- What went right -- A brief history of the u.s. economy -- The role of investment -- The role of the trade deficit -- The role of incentives -- What went wrong -- The role of banks, credit rating agencies, and regulators -- The role of short-term debt and government policy -- What comes next -- Preventing another bank run -- Reducing unemployment -- Redistributing income -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Index.