Very informative and helped recontextualize the New Democrats. Great for fans of political history, modern history, and understanding intraparty divisions.

This book was well-written and obviously well-researched by an author that is well-versed in political policy. I found it somewhat difficult to read, only because I am NOT well-versed in policy or much of the recent history she covers. However, despite the policy heavy pages, it IS very readable for the interested person. As a Democrat who has been frustrated lately by my party's inability to push through and pass important legislation, this book was helpful in teasing apart some of the background that might have contributed to what has gone wrong. I'd recommend this to readers who are progressive left-leaning Democrats who are invested in moving the party forward. I'm glad I put in the time and effort.

Thorough exploration of the policies, decisions, and actions of the Democratic party over the last 40 plus years and how these actions have shaped our current climate. Whether you agree with the main point of the author or now, this books contains meticulous research that will be valuable to decipher in order to gain a greater level of historical context for the time period.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Lily Geismer covers tremendous political, social, and historical ground in Left Behind: The Democrats’ Failed Attempt to Solve Inequality. Starting with mindset changes in the post-Carter, Reagan-era Democratic Party, Geismer works through fifty years of policies. Left Behind is a policy wonk’s kind of heaven. Still, she also makes it accessible for the rest of us.

Geismer divides the book into several main policy areas: microenterprise, community development banking, charter schools, Empowerment Zones, and free trade. Woven throughout is whether or not these policies benefit the people in communities “left behind” by the economic and technical advances of the late 20th century.

If Left Behind sounds intense, that’s because it is. However, Geismer makes this detailed and scholarly work into something readable. Packed with information, I highlighted many passages. Skimming was impossible. Instead, I read many paragraphs twice to absorb the full meaning of the text.

Much of Left Behind covers the eight years of Bill Clinton’s presidency, since his administration embraced the connection between public policy and private funding that Geismer questions throughout the book. But she’s careful to point out that Clinton built on the framework of his fellow “New Democrats.” And also that the Obama administration took the same playbook and ran with it as well.

My conclusions
This is a cautionary tale. It’s not a victory lap, by any means. Geismer repeatedly points out that these policies were a lot of sizzle and not much steak. They talk a good game about empowering people and communities of color. At the same time, the new policies expect no accountability from the private and philanthropic organizations purportedly investing. And ultimately, that combination helped the corporations and foundations considerably more than it helped the actual folks “left behind.”

To me, this is a vital read for everyone with strongly progressive left-leaning political perspectives. Sure, Geismer lays out policy. But reading between the lines, she’s also discussing why Democrats struggle to succeed politically. The actions in Left Behind explain why communities of color don’t trust politicians. The policies discussed are only the most recent failures to deliver on campaign promises. Still, today’s voters remember these are the decisions. I believe that Geismer disproves the free market, campaign trail cliche, “A rising tide lifts all boats.”

Left Behind probably isn’t for the casual political or recent historical reader. On the other hand, if you’re open to the time investment, then Geismer rewards you with meaningful insights. I’m incredibly glad I persisted and absorbed this book. Its analysis and ideas will stay with me for a long time.

Acknowledgments
Many thanks to NetGalley, Perseus Books / PublicAffairs, and the author for a digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for this honest review.