I.O.U.S.A.: One Nation. Under Stress. In Debt. | 
| Authors: Addison Wiggin, Kate Incontrera
Creator: David Walker
Publisher: Wiley
List Price: $19.95
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Rating:  22 reviews
Sales Rank: 5424
Media: Paperback
Pages: 288
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9
ISBN: 0470222778
Dewey Decimal Number: 330.973
EAN: 9780470222775
ASIN: 0470222778
Publication Date: September 29, 2008
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Product Description
The United States has been spending its way deeper and deeper into the red, and saddling future generations with the mess—but who's paying attention?
To answer that question, the companion book to the critically acclaimed documentary I.O.U.S.A. talks with some of the most revered voices in the nation, including Warren Buffett; former Treasury Secretaries Paul O’Neill and Robert Rubin; Pete Peterson, CEO of The Blackstone Group; Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas); and bestselling Empire of Debt author Bill Bonner.
Armed with these interviews, historical references, and damning statistics, the book takes a lively and entertaining romp through the four deficits the nation faces: the budget deficit, the personal savings deficit, the trade deficit—and what former U.S. Comptroller General David Walker, who resigned abruptly in 2008 over Congress’s lack of action, calls the “leadership deficit” in Washington.
Defiantly non-partisan, the empowering solutions outlined in these pages are a must-read for any American who wants to help change “business-as-usual” in Washington as a new administration heads towards the Oval Office. “We the People” can get our politicians to stop spending, promote responsible economic programs, and hand our children and grandchildren the secure future they deserve.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 17 more reviews...
 Underwhelmed October 4, 2008
M. H. Brandenburgh (Athens, GA)
50 out of 64 found this review helpful
I got this hoping to learn a lot about our national debt problem: what exactly it means, how big the problems are, what the causes are, etc. This book has almost nothing of that: whatever discussion there is of actual facts is just meant to make the reader understand this is a big problem--something anyone who buys this book already knows. That is to say, this book is very lacking in statistics and study of what they mean.
The book is arranged in two sections: the first part is the informative section, and the other half is a collection of interviews with supposed experts. Unfortunately, most of the information section is just a narrative walkthrough of how they made the movie: "While we were making the movie, we found out about this student group which is doing the same thing as us. They are on these campuses. 'The national debt is a real problem,' says the group's leader. Hopefully they'll continue their work." Nothing of actual substance. And at the end of each chapter comes a set of "solutions," offering nothing we haven't heard before. "Congress needs to begin making realistic decisions," "Leaders must be held accountable," etc.
Maybe the movie is better, but all in all, I wish I hadn't bought this.
 You have to understand the problem before you can fix it November 11, 2008
Mason Barnes (Chicago)
17 out of 18 found this review helpful
I.O.U.S.A. is the follow-on to Wiggin's best-selling Empire of Debt. It focuses a lot on the stories of people in the previous book who are tasked with making decisions regarding the four deficits our country faces: trade deficit, savings deficit, federal deficit, and the aptly-named leadership deficit. To give you a feel for some of the folks he talked to for the book, it's the likes of: Warren Buffet, Robert Rubin, Alice Rivlin, Pete Peterson, David Walker, Paul O'Neill, James Areddy, and Bill Bonner.
With America's federal debt at $8.6 trillion and growing, it's important to understand how this will impact the countries future, including entitlement programs we've grown to rely on, like Social Security and Medicare. The book isn't perfect, but it looks at a topic that every American will benefit from increasing his or her familiarity with.
Another book I recommend strongly because it is superb and has helped me immensely in keeping my own, errr, "deficits" under control is The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book.
Great intro to the debt crisis October 12, 2008
Adam Sharp
9 out of 15 found this review helpful
Enlightening. I bought the book after seeing the movie. Both helped me understand parts of the debt crisis that I didn't fully get before. Some of the dangers it warns against seem to be unfolding now.
I've developed a far more skeptical attitude towards the stock market recently, largely because of IOUSA. This skepticism has helped me dodge some of the recent equity losses. I realize this is extremely short-term, but at least I'm aware of the arguments opposing Wall St's continual bull-pumping. The traditional mentality of "don't sell now, it's the best time to buy" is incredibly ingrained in our society. People forget that on occasion there are extended periods of time that are really really bad to invest in equity markets.
This book (and the movie it's based on) helped me realize these things.
Perfect Education about the Current State of Affairs October 3, 2008
Common Sense (Orlando, Florida United States)
8 out of 14 found this review helpful
What a great read. I think what I like about this book is the format and the perfect level of detail. If you are looking for a scholarly analysis of our debt situation, keep looking. But if you are "ordinary" like me, this should keep you intrigued. I like the way the book is half problem analysis, with the other half being interviews of 12 financial "experts". Those interviewed present an intersting contrast in opinion. Great and timely book. You'll like it.
Finally, a honest look at what our lack of leadership is doing to this country. October 18, 2008
David C. Bush (Los Angeles CA)
6 out of 11 found this review helpful
I.O.U.S.A. is a "nuts and bolts" basic look at the potential financial crisis still ahead of us. While economics in college was tolerated, this book makes it interesting and relevant. It's a wake up call for the average American, and a call to arms to hold our leaders (and ourselves) accountable
for the choices we have made and will make in the future.
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