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The Sum of Us

What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together

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The Sum of Us

By: Heather McGhee
Narrated by: Heather McGhee
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About this listen

What would make a society drain its public swimming baths and fill them with concrete rather than opening them to everyone? Economics researcher Heather McGhee sets out across America to learn why white voters so often act against their own interests. Why do they block changes that would help them, and even destroy their own advantages, whenever people of colour also stand to benefit?

Their tragedy is that they believe they can't win unless somebody else loses. But this is a lie. McGhee marshals overwhelming economic evidence, and a profound well of empathy, to reveal the surprising truth: even racists lose out under white supremacy.

And US racism is everybody's problem. As McGhee shows, it was bigoted lending policies that laid the ground for the 2008 financial crisis. There can be little prospect of tackling global climate change until America's zero-sum delusions are defeated. The Sum of Us offers a priceless insight into the workings of prejudice, and a timely invitation to solidarity among all humans, 'to piece together a new story of who we could be to one another'.

©2021 Heather McGhee (P)2021 Hachette Audio UK Racism & Discrimination Social Classes & Economic Disparity Social Sciences Sociology Discrimination Social justice Capitalism Socialism Economic disparity Taxation

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All stars
Most relevant  
Mrs McGee makes a very compelling argument that racism fundamentally effects not just the targets of racism- people of colour in the US historically - but those like middle or lower class whites. Fascinating and changed my perspective in a forceful but entertaining way

My favourite read of 2021 Compelling

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An eye opening discussion on how what should a great country is a failed state. A truly great book!

Well Researched, Written & Presented

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