New York's [Michael Albert] has been a leftist activist since the 1960s. Though growing up as the son of a corporate lawyer in tony suburban New Rochelle, he discovered his reformist instinct while still in his teens.

Over the years Albert has met a variety of people. His index includes many famous names, such as Jane Fonda and Studs Terkel, although this is misleading, since he lists all the authors of the one-liners.

If Albert is really interested in alternative economic systems, one may expect to find some reports about, and analysis of, a full blown example 150 kilometres off American shores -- namely Cuba. The country doesn't even make the index.