Books matching: inequality
100 result(s)
A must-read primer on the deep psychological and societal effects of inequality - accessible, persuasive, and likely to change the way you see the world (and yourself).
'The Broken Ladder: How Inequality Affects the Way We Think, Live, and Die' by Keith Payne delves into the impacts of social inequality on individuals and society as a whole. Through compelling research and personal anecdotes, Payne explores how perceived inequality can lead to unhappiness, failure, and political division. The author emphasizes the importance of understanding the dynamics of social inequality in order to create better policies and navigate through daily life effectively.
Unlike other animals, humans have the ability to sustain stress responses over prolonged periods, leading to long-term consequences. Payne argues that addressing status inequality, rather than just income equality, is crucial in understanding public policy challenges and societal issues. By shedding light on the relationship between inequality and personal well-being, the book urges readers to reconsider their perspectives on success, achievement, and societal structures.
This surprisingly small relationship between traditional markers of status and how it is perceived subjectively means that there are a lot of people who are by objective standards affluent and yet rat...May 2017•288 pages- #2
Save:A must-read primer on the roots and consequences of inequality in America - thought-provoking, illuminating, and (mostly) accessible, but best suited to readers open to progressive policy discussions.
'The Price of Inequality' by Joseph E. Stiglitz is a comprehensive analysis of the causes and consequences of inequality in society, particularly in a capitalist system. Stiglitz delves into the political and economic forces that have shaped the market in a way that benefits the wealthy at the expense of the rest of the population. The book discusses the erosion of equality over time, the impact of government policies on inequality, and the role of societal norms and globalization in perpetuating unequal structures. Stiglitz also explores the effects of inequality on national output, economic stability, and efficiency, providing practical recommendations for reform.
THE 2007–08 FINANCIAL CRISIS AND THE GREAT RECESSION that followed cast vast numbers of Americans adrift amid the flotsam and jetsam of an increasingly dysfunctional form of capitalism. A half decade...2011•559 pages A sharp and compelling look at global inequality that will challenge how you think about economics, power, and progress. Expect to finish the book inspired - and maybe a bit fired up for change.
'The Divide: A Brief Guide to Global Inequality and its Solutions' by Jason Hickel delves into the topic of global inequality, shedding light on the stark disparities between the developed and developing world. Through a combination of economic analysis and historical context, the author challenges the conventional approach to development and offers viable solutions to address the pressing issues faced by society. The writing style is described as thought-provoking, eye-opening, and compelling, with the author skillfully weaving together narratives of past injustices and present realities to paint a comprehensive picture of the world's socio-economic landscape.
It began as a public-relations gimmick. Harry Truman had just been elected to a second term as president of the United States and was set to take the stage for his inaugural address on 20 January 1949...May 2017•368 pagesA compelling, if sometimes bleak, deep dive into America's educational divide. Not an easy read emotionally, but an essential one for understanding entrenched inequalities in our schools.
Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools by Jonathan Kozol is a powerful exploration of the extreme disparities in the American public school system. Through vivid descriptions of impoverished schools and neighborhoods, Kozol sheds light on the harsh realities faced by children who are denied equal access to education. The book delves into the underlying causes of these inequalities, from arcane tax laws to inadequate funding, painting a stark picture of the injustices prevalent in the education system.
Kozol's writing style in Savage Inequalities has been described as searing, honest, and passionate. He skillfully intertwines personal narratives, detailed examples, and in-depth analysis to convey the deep-rooted issues within the education system. By taking readers on a journey through urban classrooms and affluent schools, Kozol challenges the fundamental principles of equality and justice in America, compelling readers to confront the uncomfortable truths about the state of education for marginalized children.
“East of anywhere,” writes a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “often evokes the other side of the tracks. But, for a first-time visitor suddenly deposited on its eerily empty streets, East St...January 1991•316 pages- #5
Save:A must-read for anyone seeking to understand racial inequality in America - deeply researched, occasionally heavy, but ultimately essential and eye-opening.
'When Affirmative Action Was White' by Ira Katznelson delves into the untold history of racial inequality in twentieth-century America. It highlights how deliberate policy decisions during the New Deal and the Fair Deal excluded African Americans from the benefits of social programs, perpetuating racial disparities. explores how government initiatives such as the GI Bill and Social Security Act were designed to benefit white Americans while excluding African Americans, ultimately shaping the existing wealth gaps in society.
Through a well-researched narrative, the author uncovers the systemic discrimination faced by African Americans in accessing government assistance and opportunities for economic advancement. Katznelson's writing style is informative and academic, providing a detailed account of how past government policies favored white citizens and perpetuated racial inequality in the United States. challenges the conventional narrative of affirmative action and sheds light on the historical context that has contributed to the current disparities between African Americans and whites in American society.
THE SUN HAD BEGUN its downward slope on the evening of June 4, 1965, as President Lyndon Johnson mounted the podium on the main quadrangle of Howard University, the country’s most celebrated black cen...2005•267 pages A landmark, data-rich exploration of inequality that sparked a global conversation - hard work to finish, but essential if you want to understand why wealth gaps persist and what could be done about them.
'Capital in the Twenty-First Century' by Thomas Piketty delves into the concept that wealth capital, rather than income, drives growing inequality, leading to an oligarchic society where the wealthy dictate terms to the less fortunate. Piketty provides a wealth of data on income and wealth disparities, mainly in Western countries, demonstrating a trend of increasing inequality over the years with dire social and political consequences. Through historical perspectives on inflation, capital accumulation, and taxation, Piketty argues for structural changes like a progressive capital tax to combat the rising wealth concentration among the privileged few.
On August 16, 2012, the South African police intervened in a labor conflict between workers at the Marikana platinum mine near Johannesburg and the mine’s owners: the stockholders of Lonmin, Inc., bas...April 2014•855 pages- #7
Save:A cornerstone of social thought that’s far more influential and readable than you might expect - if you’re interested in why inequality exists, Rousseau’s exploration is a must, even if you don’t buy all his arguments.
'A Discourse on Inequality' by Jean-Jacques Rousseau delves into the origins of inequality, exploring both natural and political reasons behind it. Rousseau argues that property is the source of inequality and posits that the wealthy devised the State as a means to coerce the poor into defending the property of the rich. Through the book, Rousseau reconstructs the evolution of human culture using his reasoning, shedding light on the human condition from a philosophical standpoint.
Rousseau's writing style is described as clear and well-reasoned, with powerful language that transcends translation. He presents interesting arguments about the origins of inequality, addressing questions posed by the French Academy of Dijon. Despite some disagreements with his ideas, readers acknowledge the importance of his work in political and social theory, positioning it as an indispensable essay for those interested in Enlightenment traditions and the foundations of government.
HOWEVER important it may be in order to reach a true judgement of man’s natural state, to look back to his origins and examine him, so to speak, in the first embryo of his species, I do not propose to...1754•123 pages - #8
Save:A thorough and powerful must-read for anyone looking to understand America’s racial divide - especially the government’s role in shaping it. Not always a page-turner, but the knowledge is critical and timely.
The book, 'The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America' by Richard Rothstein, delves into the systemic racial segregation imposed by the American government through various covert tactics. It explores how federal, state, and local government policies, such as racial zoning, subsidies for builders to create whites-only suburbs, and tax exemptions for institutions enforcing segregation, contributed to racial segregation, wealth, and income inequality. Rothstein meticulously documents the history of discriminatory housing practices and the detrimental impact they had on Black Americans over several generations. The book provides a compelling narrative on how racism is deeply woven into societal systems, shedding light on the deliberate actions taken to perpetuate segregation.
WE THINK OF the San Francisco Bay Area as one of the nation’s more liberal and inclusive regions. If the federal, state, and local governments explicitly segregated the population into distinct black...May 2017•369 pages - #9
Save:A must-read wakeup call about the hidden dangers of big data, delivered in plain English. Fascinating, urgent, and perfect for anyone curious about the real-life consequences of algorithms - even if you’re not a numbers person.
"Weapons of Math Destruction" by Cathy O'Neil explores the detrimental impact of big data and algorithms on society. O'Neil delves into how these mathematical models can lead to discrimination, perpetuate inequality, and harm specific segments of the population. Through various examples, she highlights how these models can be biased, opaque, and create feedback loops that reinforce stereotypes. covers a wide range of topics, including employment, advertising, political engagement, and consumer credit, showcasing how these mathematical systems can have far-reaching consequences on people's lives.
It was a hot August afternoon in 1946. Lou Boudreau, the player-manager of the Cleveland Indians, was having a miserable day. In the first game of a doubleheader, Ted Williams had almost single-handed...September 2016•282 pages A must-read for anyone interested in why infectious diseases hit the world's poor hardest - insightful, passionate, and still highly relevant.
"Infections and Inequalities: The Modern Plagues" by Paul Farmer is a compelling exploration of the modern epidemics of tuberculosis and HIV infection, focusing on the challenges faced by impoverished victims in countries like Haiti, Peru, and the US. Farmer provides clinical vignettes that vividly showcase the impact of inequalities on health and the struggles of those affected by infectious diseases. delves into the political economy of disease while emphasizing the global interconnectedness of health issues and the urgent need for action to address health disparities worldwide.
As I prepared this book, an anonymous reviewer of an early draft suggested that, since the book reflects a personal journey, it should make explicit the itinerary taken. The idea of a confessional cas...1999•424 pages
