99%: How We've Been Screwed and How to Fight Back

by Mark E. Thomas

A clear, readable analysis of the inescapable fact that Generation Y (and subsequent generations) will be poorer than their parents, and how we should pursue other economic paths. If you are part of the 99%—and there is a 99% chance that you are—then you are one of the first generation in living memory who can expect to be poorer than your parents, even as the economy continues to grow. And you could be quite a lot poorer. If we continue as we are going, the civilization we enjoy today will not last until 2050. Buying their own house is a distant dream for most young people; their wages are failing to keep pace with inflation; and more and more people are having to rely on food banks. Our age is one of chronic anxiety. If the economy is doing so well, how can most people not be doing well? If the pie is growing, why aren't we all getting bigger slices?  This book shows what we, the 99%, can do to end mass impoverishment and build a society worth living in: an age of abundance, in which everyone benefits.

Genres: Economics, Nonfiction

354 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Heather Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book changed the way I think about the world. There are so many things I thought I knew about economics that turn out to be myths. For example, how Cameron/Osborne used the myth of high debt:GDP levels to justify their policy of austerity. The fact (from Bank of England) show that in 2010 gov debt was less than the average it had been for the last 300 years. I’m not an economist but I found this a very good and acccessible read. I think it’s such an important book for making us all aware of how we have got into the economic and political mess we’re in and a plan for how we rebuild our country so that government governs for the 99% - that’s us- and not for the 1% or the 0.1%.

[Steve Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone should read this!

[Theo Kokonas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. A really, really great book.
Unfortunately in the UK and the US there is a lack of educational attainment towards Civic duty - understanding your rights in society, how the political system works, how government functions. It's called "Civics" in some parts of the world. This is partly to blame for some of the misunderstandings and more 'emotional' and/or extremist voting and activist behaviours rather than a more sensible, measured, open-minded approach.
It's a book that showcases what other authors have referred to as "The Great Disparity" - or in the author's words "The Market Capitalist" approach which began in the early '80s with Thatcher and Regan policies which effectively led to a staggered impoverishment of the majority of our societal classes.
The author details this alongside the narratives that are pushed to justify the policies that have been taking place. These narratives are broken down to explain just what they are: myths really.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who isn't happy with the current state of political affairs and wants to explore what the alternatives could be.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

The flipside of the narrative of unaffordability is a sense of solidarity and abundance

When politicians, economists, and corporate heads speak of scarcity of public goods that we "cannot afford", are they speaking in terms of economic realities? Or the political choices made on our behalf? The fact is--there are more than enough resources in the world to provide all the fundamentals of a good life to every person. For all to live a full life of autonomy and abundance.

All we have to do is work together...

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Im an age when we are surrounded by economically illiterate and dishonest politicians, this book shines a clear bright light in some very dark corners. An absolute tour de force.

[Nathan Aracena · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can’t stand not finishing a book I’ve started so I tried really hard to plug my way through this one. Like pulling teeth, I worked through it, but page 200/320 proved too much. I’ve read one other economics book before and also found it extremely dry, so maybe that’s just part and parcel of the topic, but I really thought a book about the governmental and economical disasters that have led to the poorest generation (in terms of housing affordability) would have more bite to it. But it was awash with overcomplex diagrams and pages which drawled on with little substance. I desperately want to find something I enjoyed in this but it really was just a tedious read. For example, pages spent talking about the metro map but with no real purpose as to why and how this really impacted our current state. Sadly underwhelming.

[Gerry Gillanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

A worrying read that unsettles and educates at the same time. It seems that we are running out of time to save civilisation as we know it. Given the rise of the far right and of ‘alternative facts’ there is much here to be concerned about.
The author presents his case clearly and fairly and with it offers hope for change. A very lucid,well written and gripping read. Admirably, the author does not rest on his laurels and offers advice / suggestions on how to get involved in change and leads by example by getting involved himself. Kudos to him on all fronts. Read it and suggest your friends and family do likewise.

[Chris Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

turns out everything is affordable for the country but as individuals we are all screwed due to AI.

answers then involve universal basic income or ban AI. Perhaps uk response to covid-19 is an experiment to test various futures.

or covid 19 is a test of a culling process: nothing like a good conspiracy theory

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an incredibly lucid and accessible book considering it was about some quite dense economic subjects. Thomas did well to make this readable.

The problem of mass impoverishment and how it has arisen over the last 35 years was well put and a number of interesting hypothetical scenarios were put forward as what could happen next especially in the context of climate change.

There was a good attempt at providing solutions, some practical and philosophical remedies although one of them seemed to be “have the public be more left wing”.

[Mr A C Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for everyone

Although at first it seems complex and confusing the overall message ( neatly summarised In the last chapter) is that we can all make some contribution to improving everyone's life in the UK by driving political decision for good, read recomend and join the revolution before it's to late

[Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eye-opener. A revelation. Thought provoking and revealing. Changed my understanding. Read it!