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A review by jack_reid
Capital and Ideology by Thomas Piketty
3.0
Pickett's stated goal is to challenge common rationalizations of inequality and spark a political discussions around a post-capitalistic society. He achieves that goal. In painstaking detail, he analyses available data across the globe to show that inequality is creeping higher without a clear end in sight. That's scary.
What's his recommendation - more transparent measurement of wealth, more progressive taxes (wealth + income), and steep increases at ridiculous levels of wealth and income. All fine and good - and an excellent add to the discussion around global inequality. I'd rate his book a 5/5 for ideas and its thought provocations.
However, I'll admit I browsed and skipped a significant portion of the book (maybe 1/5). I also wondered why he went to such detail in several other areas (specifically covering some topics in detail across 5+ countries, and the tri-part government in the Middle Ages). Interesting, and academically important I'd imagine, but dense for a semi-popular book.
What would I recommend? Pick it up and read the introduction. Skim Part One, read Two, skim Three (especially if you read his previous book), and read Four. Still 400+ pages but more doable.
What's his recommendation - more transparent measurement of wealth, more progressive taxes (wealth + income), and steep increases at ridiculous levels of wealth and income. All fine and good - and an excellent add to the discussion around global inequality. I'd rate his book a 5/5 for ideas and its thought provocations.
However, I'll admit I browsed and skipped a significant portion of the book (maybe 1/5). I also wondered why he went to such detail in several other areas (specifically covering some topics in detail across 5+ countries, and the tri-part government in the Middle Ages). Interesting, and academically important I'd imagine, but dense for a semi-popular book.
What would I recommend? Pick it up and read the introduction. Skim Part One, read Two, skim Three (especially if you read his previous book), and read Four. Still 400+ pages but more doable.