Alec MacGillis Knihy

An award-winning journalist explores Amazon's profound impact on the wealth and poverty of towns and cities across the U.S. Echoing Upton Sinclair's critique of corporate indifference in 1937, the narrative contrasts the $1.5 trillion market capitalization of Amazon with the $30 billion value of Ford Motor Company. As online shopping becomes increasingly essential, especially during the pandemic, Amazon's influence grows. This work is not merely an exposé but a literary investigation into the America shaped by Amazon's expanding presence. The author reveals how Amazon's network of delivery hubs and corporate campuses highlights the widening divide between prosperous and struggling regions, unraveling the civic fabric and transforming work into isolated, rudimentary tasks. In Seattle, affluent workers displace historic Black neighborhoods, while in Ohio, cardboard production replaces auto manufacturing. Suburban Virginia residents confront environmental challenges posed by new data centers, and Baltimore witnesses warehouses taking over former steel plants. The narrative also delves into Amazon's political clout in Washington, D.C., illustrating the revolving door between lobbyists and government. With empathy and depth, the author uncovers the hidden human costs of regional inequality, offering an intimate account of contemporary capitalism and its relentless reshaping of America.