Four generations of Americans have come to associate Ralph Nader with the political issues that have defined our age, be it car safety in the 1960s or the anti-WTO demonstrations that recently shut down Seattle. His work has successfully shaped the Left, increased government accountability, made possible new laws, and served as a powerful check against abuses of corporate power. In this landmark collection, the essays that reveal the intellectual, social, and political underpinnings of this legendary citizen advocate are brought together for the first time.
In The Ralph Nader Reader, we follow the trajectory of Nader's concerns from 1956 to the present and his personal evolution from consumer advocate to presidential candidate. The result is a monumental book, an invaluable resource for anyone interested in a unique vision of democracy that places citizenship over consumerism, communities over corporations, and public interest over private power. “The Ralph Nader Reader is an extraordinary work that draws together Nader's best writings throughout his career. This single volume reveals the depth and range of his genius, and his passion for building an America true to the ideals of social justice, informed self-government, and equality of opportunity.” –Robert W. McChesney, author of Rich Media, Poor Democracy: Communication Politics in Dubious Times and co-author of It's the Media, Stupid


“Ralph Nader is our indispensable voice of outrage against corporate corruption, greed, invasion of privacy, and abuse of power.” –James K. Galbraith, author of Created Unequal: The Crisis of American Pay


“When I was a kid I had three heroes: Batman, Spiderman, and Ralph Nader. He's a people's superhero. Read this book and find out why.” –Winona LaDuke, co-chair of the Indigenous Women's Network