Nothing Is Too Big to Fail Lib/E: How the Last Financial Crisis Informs Today

In 2008, the American economy collapsed, taking with it millions of Americans' jobs, homes, and life savings. The impending financial crisis was devastating, and many are still feeling its effects today. Though the crisis was debilitating, the US government has yet to implement policies that would prevent a repeat of the Great Recession. The middle class continues to shrink, escalations in racial injustices prevail, and distrust of the government grows by the day. And with the country's current fiscal policies, our economy is in a fragile place, barely strong enough to survive a shock caused by an international conflict, a cyberattack, or a global pandemic, like COVID-19. Nothing Is Too Big to Fail holds a microscope to the very policies and corruption that led to this major economic recession. Authors Kerry and Linda Killinger warn that, without significant institutional change, the country has created asset and debt bubbles that could burst at any time. No institution, government, or country is "too big to fail." But by learning from our past mistakes and taking action, we can return our country's economic system--and in turn, our democracy--to one that is secure.

About the Author :
Linda Killinger was vice chair of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and chair of its audit/finance committee. She was also a consulting partner in an international accounting firm specializing in strategic planning and merger/acquisitions for financial institutions. She was the publisher and editor of Overseas Business magazine. Prior to that she was appointed by Governor Robert D. Ray as the director of administration for the Iowa Department of Human Services, which included the prison system, mental health hospitals, AFDC, and other human service programs. She was appointed by Governor Tom Vilsack to chair his Committee for a Comprehensive Housing Strategy for Iowa. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University, an MBA from Drake University, and completed additional graduate work at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management. She currently is the CEO of Olympic Consulting. In 2002, Linda and her husband, Kerry, founded the Kerry and Linda Killinger Foundation, which has the mission of public policy reform and social and racial justice, building community and access to the arts. Kerry Killinger was the chairman, president, and CEO of Washington Mutual Bank, the sixth largest depository bank in the country prior to the financial crisis of 2008. He graduated with a BBA with honors and an MBA from the University of Iowa. He is a chartered financial analyst (CFA) and a fellow in the Life Management Institute. He was chair of the National Education summit of Achieve and American Banker's Banker of the year, received President George H. W. Bush's Points of Light Award for his philanthropy, was vice chair and chair-elect of the Financial Services Roundtable, vice chair and chair-elect of the Federal Reserve's Thrift Industry Advisory Council, and was vice chair of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Seattle. He was elected to the American Society of Corporate Executives. He is currently the CEO of Crescent Capital. In 2002, Kerry and his wife, Linda, founded the Kerry and Linda Killinger Foundation, which has the mission of public policy reform and social and racial justice, building community and access to the arts. Gary Bennett is a SAG-AFTRA audiobook narrator. He was born and raised in California and then in Bozeman, Montana, and is the oldest of four children. He now calls the greater Seattle area his home, and he's a huge fan of the Seattle Seahawks. Gary has always been passionate about not just telling a story, but telling it well. From reading bedtime stories with his children to performing in front of the microphone, bringing a story to life is one of his greatest joys. Gary has pursued his career in audiobook narration with zeal, continuing to not only invest in personal coaching from some of the best in the industry, but also investing in some of the best equipment for his professional home-based studio. There are few things he enjoys more than stepping into his StudioBricks home studio and recording his favorite books. Gary is also a licensed electrical engineer and a private pilot. He loves watching and participating in sports and listening to and playing music, and is an avid outdoor enthusiast.