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Equality
Imagine a country where the most progressive people in society received everything they ever wanted. Equality is such a country. Everything is provided from cradle to grave. There is no income inequality as their benevolent government provides free healthcare, food security, a universal basic income, and guaranteed housing for all. There is no unemployment, as everyone is assigned to the job most suited for them. Universal education ensures no child is raised without the firm, guiding hand of properly trained educators. No one owns anything and they are happy. Entertainment is plentiful, love is free of stigmas, and everything is centrally planned to ensure everyone has enough.
In this utopian society, what could go wrong? For maintenance worker, Value Fixer, everything seems wonderful. But, even a perfect society is not without its problems. Through one year of his life, one can watch him deal with the struggles of living in a perfectly progressive world.
In this utopian society, what could go wrong? For maintenance worker, Value Fixer, everything seems wonderful. But, even a perfect society is not without its problems. Through one year of his life, one can watch him deal with the struggles of living in a perfectly progressive world.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 17, 2022
3 people are currently reading
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February 19, 2025
"Equality" by Daniel Watts is a fantastic thought experiment that takes the most hallowed fantasties of the left, and gives them the exact world they ask for. But then it sets the story in this world several political cycles or generations later with the main character, a handyman in this world of many genders, no property ownership, government run food industry, and community raised individuals. The logic of how this world plays out is incredibly well thought out. The writer has clearly thought through these ideas more than the proponents of them. They might enjoy this book, would help them develop their policies more. Mr. Watts has ingeniously constructed the structure of this story perfectly in the satire genre by having the handyman called to many of the important areas of this world on small jobs. This shows us the world in stages almost like Dante's Divine Comedy or the Odyssey. The handyman is sympathetic to every thing in this world and his internal monologue gives every argument for this world and its fruits. Personally, even though this is a satire, Mr. Watt's writing of the main character was very real all the way through the ending, which added a deeper layer to this story that has stuck with me since reading.
If you want to dig deep into a leftist world and experience it in the form of prose, this is the story for it. I don't know of anything else that has done this. I don't know, might also make a good gift for your liberal aunts and uncles.
If you want to dig deep into a leftist world and experience it in the form of prose, this is the story for it. I don't know of anything else that has done this. I don't know, might also make a good gift for your liberal aunts and uncles.
Displaying 1 of 1 review