Were You Born on the Wrong Continent?

“A travelogue, self-discovery prose and business book all at once . . . written with humor and candor” from the author of Only One Thing Can Save Us (Courtney Crowder, Chicago Tribune).

Try to imagine your life in a full-blown European social democracy, especially the German version. Free public goods, a bit of worker control, and whopping trade surpluses? Social democracy doesn't sound too bad. Were You Born on the Wrong Continent? reveals where you might have been happier—or at least had time off to be unhappy properly. It explains why Americans should pay attention to Germany, where ordinary people can work three hundred to four hundred hours a year less than we do and still have one of the most competitive economies in the world.

“Most diverting . . . [Geoghegan] has the great virtue of being witty and ironic—and to the point . . . A necessary primer.” —Jurek Martin, Financial Times

“Clever and immensely appealing.” —Katha Pollitt, The Nation

“All dissatisfied Americans, not just progressives, should read the book.” —Jeremy Gantz, Alternet

“Thoughtful and engagingly written.” —David Maine, PopMatters

“Truly eye-opening . . . Geoghegan’s book pulls back a curtain.” —Robyn Blumner, St. Petersburg Times