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The Tyranny of Merit
- What's Become of the Common Good?
- Narrated by: Michael J. Sandel
- Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
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Publisher's Summary
This program is read by the author.
The world-renowned philosopher and author of the best-selling Justice explores the central question of our time: What has become of the common good?
These are dangerous times for democracy. We live in an age of winners and losers, where the odds are stacked in favor of the already fortunate. Stalled social mobility and entrenched inequality give the lie to the American credo that "you can make it if you try". The consequence is a brew of anger and frustration that has fueled populist protest and extreme polarization and led to deep distrust of both government and our fellow citizens - leaving us morally unprepared to face the profound challenges of our time.
World-renowned philosopher Michael J. Sandel argues that to overcome the crises that are upending our world, we must rethink the attitudes toward success and failure that have accompanied globalization and rising inequality. Sandel shows the hubris a meritocracy fosters among the winners and the indignities it inflicts on those left behind. And 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 solidarity, and more affirming of the dignity of work. The Tyranny of Merit points us toward a hopeful vision of a new politics of the common good.
A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux
"This is a remarkable book about justice. In his unique and powerful moral voice, Michael Sandel digs at the roots of our divisions, dissects the causes of inequality, and dismantles the lazy orthodoxy of those on the left and the right. Accessible and profound, The Tyranny of Merit is a revelatory assessment of pervasive unfairness in our society, driven in part by a naïve and myopic reliance on the notion of merit. In a time of easy rhetoric and thoughtless tribalism, this provocative book is a must-read for anyone who still cares about the common good. You will catch yourself wondering, again and again, 'Why have I never thought of it that way?' No good faith reader will come away from this book unchanged." (Preet Bharara, former US Attorney for the Southern District of New York and author of Doing Justice: A Prosecutor’s Thoughts on Crime, Punishment, and the Rule of Law)
"Astute, insightful, and empathetic, Sandel exposes the cruelty at the heart of some of our most beloved myths about success. A must-read for anyone struggling to understand populist resentment, and why, for many Americans, the American Dream has come to feel more like a taunt than a promise. This book is just what we need right now." (Tara Westover, author of Educated)
"The Tyranny of Merit deftly exposes the flaws and fallacies of meritocratic philosophy. In lucid, illuminating prose, Sandel makes a compelling case for uprooting inequality and building a fairer society shaped by true principles of justice. A seminal work." (Darren Walker, president, Ford Foundation)
Critic Reviews
“Astute, insightful, and empathetic, Sandel exposes the cruelty at the heart of some of our most beloved myths about success. A must-read for anyone struggling to understand populist resentment, and why, for many Americans, the American Dream has come to feel more like a taunt than a promise. This book is just what we need right now.” (Tara Westover, author of Educated)
“The Tyranny of Merit deftly exposes the flaws and fallacies of meritocratic philosophy. In lucid, illuminating prose, Sandel makes a compelling case for uprooting inequality and building a fairer society shaped by true principles of justice. A seminal work.” (Darren Walker, president, Ford Foundation)
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What listeners say about The Tyranny of Merit
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Robert McIntosh
- 09-18-20
Enlightening
"The Tyranny of Merit" is one of the most enlightening books I've read in the last few years. If you're frustrated or confused about the state of not only the nation but also the world, Mr. Sandel will shed some light on why society is reacting the way it is. The gradual and seductive governing of society through meritocracy and "incentivization" has a dark side and it is that very force that is driving some groups, sometimes unwittingly, to protest, revolution, and violence. In the US, powerful groups are branding socialism as the antithesis to the American Dream in an attempt to hold onto power. Ironically, socialism may be the best thing to save it.
7 people found this helpful
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- Vi T
- 01-09-21
Idealistic problematic read
Despite plausible ideas and important discussions around the power of markets, dignity of work and solidarity, Sandel sadly advocates for socialism with “sheep’s skin”.
The extended criticism on the model society is currently based , with education as one of its pillars, is also pointless without a proposal on a replacement model. Good read with disputable points.
5 people found this helpful
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- Perry Scott
- 11-20-20
A prophet for out time
Everyone should read this book. You will recognize the truth and wonder why for so long you’ve been seduced while also troubled by the idea of meritocracy. It will change every decision you make from now on.
4 people found this helpful
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- Robert J Reardon
- 09-20-20
A very timely read
I read this book after also reading Wilkerson's book on caste. It was a very compatible read continuing many aspects of examining the same subject of the sources and solutions to inequality in our time. Little can be more salient to the moment.
4 people found this helpful
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- Alexis O.
- 10-01-20
Good but repetitive
There’s thesis of the book is covered well and it includes plenty of fascinating detail. However, several times I checked my app to see if I had accidentally skipped to a previous chapter because the language sounded so familiar that I was sure I’d already heard it. A good editor could cut the length of the book in half by eliminating redundancy.
3 people found this helpful
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- Flavio Silva
- 03-18-21
Excelente! Um livro que, após lido, faz pensar diferente!
Excelente! Este livro aborda, com muita clareza, os riscos que corremos ao adotarmos a meritocracia como um valor, um ideal, e utilizá-la para justificar as desigualdades. Interessante também o resultado da pesquisa sobre os preconceitos que as pessoas com nível superior (graduação) possuem sobre as que não têm. Este é mais um livro fantástico do Michael Sandel, do mesmo nível do “Justiça: a coisa certa a fazer.” Impossível lê-lo e terminar pensando o que se pensava antes.
2 people found this helpful
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- Martin Rocha
- 12-17-20
not good
it made no case on why merit is not good. I don't recommend. it didn't change my mind at all
2 people found this helpful
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- Emily Olson
- 06-25-22
So so so so so good
Eye opening and practically life-changing. I love Michael Sandel’s work!! I took his Justice course and decided to read more of his work.. and this is a lesson in humility and the understanding of how our civic life is so affected by privilege and how we contribute to that inequality.
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- henryj
- 05-30-22
repetitive and no real solutions
He spends almost the whole book. pointing out the problems of meritocracy which is mainly that people who succeed feel they deserve it. His simple answer is that westbound recognize how luck affects everyones outcome and respect everyone's work.
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- Christopher
- 05-19-22
More political than expected
Struggled to finish- didn't finish. I listen to it because a friend suggested it. Overall it had some great valid points but the comments tended to be more negative towards some specific politicians. I think the author had some good points that could have been made it a shorter version.