# The Big Fail: What the Pandemic Revealed about Who America Protects and Who It Leaves Behind - Hardcover

by **Joe Nocera** (Author), **Bethany McLean** (Author)

**From the collaborators behind the modern business classic _All the Devils are Here_ comes a damning indictment of American capitalism--and the leaders that left us brutally unprepared for a global pandemic**

In 2020, the novel coronavirus pandemic made it painfully clear that the U.S. could not adequately protect its citizens. Millions of Americans suffered--and over a million died--in less than two years, while government officials blundered; prize-winning economists overlooked devastating trade-offs; and elites escaped to isolated retreats, unaffected by and even profiting from the pandemic.

Why and how did America, in a catastrophically enormous failure, become the world leader in COVID deaths? In this page-turning economic, political, and financial history, veteran journalists Bethany McLean and Joe Nocera offer fresh and provocative answers. With laser-sharp analysis and deep sourcing, they investigate both what really happened when governments ran out of PPE due to snarled supply chains and the shock to the financial system when the world's biggest economy stumbled. They zero in on the effectiveness of wildly polarized approaches, with governors Andrew Cuomo of New York and Ron DeSantis of Florida taking infamous turns in the spotlight. And they trace why thousands died in hollowed-out hospital systems and nursing homes run by private equity firms to "maximize shareholder value."

In the tradition of the authors' previous landmark expos駸, _The Big Fail_ is an expansive, insightful account on what the pandemic did to the economy and how American capitalism has jumped the rails--and is essential reading to understand where we're going next.

### Author Biography

**Bethany McLean** is a journalist and contributing editor for _Vanity Fair_. She has co-authored multiple bestselling books, including _The Smartest Guys in the Room_ with Peter Elkind and _All the Devils Are Here_ with Joe Nocera. She resides in Chicago with her children.

**Joe Nocera** is a columnist for _The Free Press_. His business journalism has appeared in numerous publications, including _Esquire_, _Bloomberg_, and _The New York Times_. He also wrote and produced the hit podcasts _The Shrink Next Door_ and A_gatha Christie and the Dandelion Poisoner_. His books include _All the Devils Are Here_ and _Indentured_. He lives in New York City.

**Number of Pages:** 448

**Dimensions:** 1.6 x 9.1 x 6.2 IN

**Publication Date:** October 17, 2023

## Details

- **Price:** 32.0 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 32.00 USD | In stock |

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- The Big Fail: What the Pandemic Revealed about Who America Protects and Who It Leaves Behind - Hardcover

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> Updated: 2026-07-21