Unequal: How extreme, and worsening, inequality is damaging democracy, and what we can do about it

by Christiaan Straeuli, Robyn Wilkinson, David Buckman

The robber barons of the tech revolution – Gates, Bezos, Zuckerberg, Musk and others – have led the way to wealth inequality worse than that of the turn of the nineteenth century, with damaging implications for democracy. How has this happened and what can we do about it?

320 pages, Paperback

Published September 12, 2023

Reviews

[LaShanda Chamberlain · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Unequal, Christiaan Straeuli and Robyn Wilkinson explore how billionaires like Gates, Bezos, Zuckerberg, and Musk have leveraged their immense wealth and power to reshape society, from monopolies to tax loopholes and labor exploitation. The book makes a sobering point: democracy is at risk when so much wealth is concentrated in so few hands. While it doesn't offer easy answers, Unequal urges us to reconsider regulation, tax laws, and capitalism. After reading it, I’m deeply concerned about our future and believe it’s crucial to address the growing divide between the ultra-rich and the rest of society before democracy becomes another casualty. Leaders must act to protect the democratic values we cherish.

A huge thanks to NetGalley, the authors, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy.