For millions of people in the United States, the concept of the American dream is just that—a dream, often unfulfilled. It’s also a myth. The idea that anyone, no matter their circumstances, can become financially secure in our nation’s system of predatory capitalism is misleading and even dangerous. Yes, hard work often pays off, but just as often, it does not (see Alissa Quart’s Bootstrapped). Consequently, millions are left to scrape by on minimal wages while the 1% manipulate the system to their advantage. I would like to highlight four January books that offer alternative, more inclusive visions.

Let’s begin with that dream, which Benjamin Waterhouse deconstructs in his latest book, One Day I’ll Work for Myself: The Dream and Delusion That Conquered America (Norton, Jan. 16). This follow-up to The Land of Enterprise: A Business History of the United States is, according to our critic, “a thoughtful examination of the myths, reality, and cultural dimensions of self-employment.” The author capably explores our conventional notions of self-reliance and freedom, particularly as they apply to entrepreneurs and gig-economy workers, creating a vigorous, myth-busting, “clear-minded account of the link between self-employment and culture—and where the path leads.”

The many pitfalls of capitalism are on full display in I Survived Capitalism and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt: Everything I Wish I Never Had To Learn About Money (Doubleday, Jan. 16), by Madeline Pendleton, which we call “a vivid account of the many challenges millennials face while trying to make it in an unforgiving economy.” Pendleton entertainingly translates her TikTok persona to the page, excoriating the dog-eat-dog nature of capitalism while weaving in her personal story and helpful recommendations to young people on everything from credit scores to ethics. “All of this is extremely helpful to those who, like Pendleton, would otherwise have to figure it out for themselves,” writes our reviewer. “Move on, Jim Cramer. Here’s the real deal—smart, undaunted, and eminently wise.”

Ethics and justice inform the arguments of New Yorker contributor Nick Romeo in The Alternative: How To Build a Just Economy (PublicAffairs, Jan. 16), which opens with the author’s challenging “the basic received truth in neoclassical economics that it is a science, operating under its own set of ineluctable laws and with no political or moral dimension.” Weaving in elements of philosophy and psychology, Romeo makes a convincing case for a more ethical economy that addresses the needs of everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status.

In Busting the Bankers’ Club: Finance for the Rest of Us (Univ. of California, Jan. 23), Gerald Epstein, an economics professor, uses his expertise to present an investigation of “the countless ways in which the financial system fails ordinary consumers while favoring the wealthy,” in the words of our reviewer. Digging into topics such as the stock market, hedge funds, the 2008 recession, the outsize influence of influential economists, and the necessity of low-interest loans, the author fashions a model for a truly democratic financial industry. He offers “a cleareyed view of the financial system’s woes, all addressable if only the political and economic will is there.”

Eric Liebetrau is the nonfiction editor.