It is always refreshing to read a book that wants to move beyond the critique of capitalism. Wright's is not the only one around, and not the most engaging, but makes solid points about the obstacles to creating an alternative to rampant neoliberalism. As an expert in class analysis, he shows how the old Marxist idea of class consciousness is difficult, if not impossible, to achieve in the proliferation of identities in the 21st century. That's why we need shared values--something that mechanistic Marxist theory has dismissed. At the moment, the dynamics Wright discusses make sense, but (as he also notes), they are being employed by the far right to a far greater efficiency than any kind of socialism. But, therein of course lies the hope for left movements as well. Interestingly, from an European perspective, it looks like mass movement on the left will be an import from the US this time around.