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The Tyranny of Merit

What’s Become of the Common Good?

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The Tyranny of Merit

By: Michael J. Sandel
Narrated by: Michael J Sandel
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

These are dangerous times for democracy. We live in an age of winners and losers, where the odds are stacked in favour of the already fortunate. Stalled social mobility and entrenched inequality give the lie to the promise that 'you can make it if you try'. And the consequence is a brew of anger and frustration that has fuelled populist protest, with the triumph of Brexit and election of Donald Trump.

Michael J. Sandel argues that to overcome the polarised politics of our time, we must rethink the attitudes toward success and failure that have accompanied globalisation and rising inequality. Sandel highlights the hubris a meritocracy generates among the winners and the harsh judgement it imposes on those left behind. He offers an alternative way of thinking about success - more attentive to the role of luck in human affairs, more conducive to an ethic of humility and more hospitable to a politics of the common good.

©2020 Michael J. Sandel (P)2020 Penguin Audio Political Science Politics & Government Social Classes & Economic Disparity Sociology Capitalism Socialism Thought-Provoking Inspiring Economic inequality Social justice Taxation Liberalism Economic disparity

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Sandel writes a necessary book about how the focus on merit increases inequality and suffering in our society. In this he mainly focuses on practical examples. He could have made his book great by introducing a more in depth philosophical analysis (he only devoted a single chapter to it) and by spending more time on solutions that are more out of the box than lotteries for university and taxing capital not work. It is a necessary book though and a in depth look at the cost of focussing on merit

Good but could be great

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Deeply thoughtful account of where meritocracy has lead us, and how society has become so polarised by the superficially attractive notion that we are almost entirely responsible for our success (and conversely our lack of it).
Sandel has seldom been more insightful or important. His brilliance shines on every page.
Anyone who wants to understand how poor Americans, in their droves, voted for a man who promised to reduce welfare and decrease health benefits, while giving tax breaks to billionaires, should read this book. I suspect many will find the answer both difficult and humbling.
Should be required reading on everyone’s list - and ideally taught at every university.
If you only read one academic book this year, this is the one.
For those wanting an introduction to Prof Sandel, the Reith Lectures available via the BBC archives are a good place to start.

Outstanding Critique of policy failure

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Very sobering illustration of the mechanisms of privilege and how merit is in fact a false premise to social equality

Eye opening

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I listened to and riled against Michael Sandel, Elif Shafak, David Goodhart and Amol Rajan rethinking meritocracy, division and community on BBC Radio 4's "Start the week" programme back in early September. But I'm so glad to have listened to this book. I stand enlightened and corrected. Michael Sandel's book has helped me recognise the extent and nature of my hubris and that of many other higher education credentialed folk. What next?

Resonant

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such a phenomenally good concept, I think the tyranny of merit beautifully explains european and American politics now. I would love to recommend it to friends but unfortunately the book is too repetitive and solutions to the problems explained are weak. I wish he had a better editor! just listen to his interview on the podcast reasons to be cheerful you'll save 10 hours

a unified theory of discourse as we know it

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Sandel's book is a lucid discussion of the 'rhetoric of rising'. it's an informed critique of meritocracy/credentialism and its role in the rise of right-wing populism.
Sandel's reading is to be commended too.

Well written critique of meritocracy

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I am a fan of Michael Sandel's clarity of thought and reliable moral compass, and this book does not disappoint. It makes explicit some of the ideas that are so much part of our social fabric that they are like the water we swim in, invisible and absorbed by osmosis -- and it sets forth the most plausible and realistic assessment I have ever heard of the causes of the current wave of populism, not only in the U.S. but across the world.

A really important book

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This book led me to question some fundamental beliefs I held about the meaning of merit and the purpose of each individual in society. I would highly recommend it to readers from all walks of life and political persuasions.

It gives a sensible explanation for the rise of phenomena like flat earthers, antivaxxers and populist ultra nationalist political parties which were previously incomprehensible for me.

A truly eye opening view

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Every academic, professional, cosmopolitan, graduate, higher than average income earner (or should we say “taker”, should read this book in front of a mirror and then ask whose fault it is that Brexit, Trump and other forms of populism are unravelling liberal democracies.

Towering, complete, perfect

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Class system created by colleges degrees. Should address this by 1st selecting by academic criterias and then by chance ( many more people that are capable apply than places )
Talks about the utilitarian function of finance. Is there a point to the financial industry we created?

College degree is the new denominator

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