Hello and welcome to the intelligence from The Economist.

I'm your host, Patrick Lane, filling in for Jason Palmer.

Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

The making of concrete generates about 8% of the world's carbon dioxide emissions.

But the industry could be much, much greener.

In time, it might even become a net extractor of CO2.

And TikTok is the unlikely home of a new wave of book reviews.

The critics are mainly young and female.

Their style is hugs, not hatchet jobs,

and they're proving a boon for the book trade.

But first... President Joe Biden's grand plan to rebuild America is in better shape than it was this time last week.

On this vote, the yeas are 228 and the nays are 206.

The motion is adopted.

Last Friday, the House of Representatives passed a $1.2 trillion bill to repair and modernize

the country's creaking infrastructure.

I don't think it's an exaggeration that suggests that we took a monumental step forward as a nation.

It's an important legislative victory for a president whose record until this point has been

somewhat patchy. But the big spending on roads, bridges and public transport has a dual purpose.

A once-in-a-generation investment that's going to create millions of jobs.

It's not only about providing jobs, but reinvigorating an American dream that for many is fading.

And if Mr. Biden is to achieve that, he knows he'll need more than spending just

on infrastructure. The American dream is predicated on the idea that no matter who you are,

...