
The Tyranny of Merit: What's Become of the Common Good? (Paperback)
Michael J. Sandel (author)Published: 14/09/2021

In this thoughtful and timely volume, the esteemed political philosopher Michael Sandel deconstructs what success means in a rigidly stratified and unequal society and argues for a new method of measuring achievement more in line with the common good.
These are dangerous times for democracy. We live in an age of winners and losers, where the odds are stacked in favour of the already fortunate. Stalled social mobility and entrenched inequality give the lie to the promise that "you can make it if you try". And the consequence is a brew of anger and frustration that has fuelled populist protest, with the triumph of Brexit and election of Donald Trump.
Michael J. Sandel argues that to overcome the polarized politics of our time, we must rethink the attitudes toward success and failure that have accompanied globalisation and rising inequality. Sandel highlights the hubris a meritocracy generates among the winners and the harsh judgement it imposes on those left behind. 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 more hospitable to a politics of the common good.
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
ISBN: 9780141991177
Number of pages: 288
Weight: 213 g
Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 17 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
'Credentialism is the last acceptable prejudice... blends fact, analysis and opinion in eminently readable non-fiction.' - Rana Foroohar, Financial Times
'The Tyranny of Merit is original, lively and no mere critique: unlike many others who have written on the "sorting" of society into winners and losers, Sandel produces a persuasive argument about the kind of community we should seek ... The Tyranny of Merit is an important work, and makes a profound point that our leaders would do well to understand.' - Nick Timothy, Daily Telegraph
'He is good at dismantling the cheap language of recent politics... compelling, too, in diagnosing the growing use of discriminatory language.' - Julian Glover, Evening Standard
You may also be interested in...
“Because we're worth it?”
I went to a comprehensive & was the first in my family to go to university. I finished top (economics) ahead of guys from elite fee-paying schools. The meritocratic dream of social mobility personified, right? A... More
“An authoritative and counterintuitive analysis of the present problems of democracies”
Mr Sandel debunks the meritocracy and proposes an alternative. He bases most of his argument on life in the USA, but also draws on British experiences. He makes a good case for toning down the meritocracy, but his... More
Please sign in to write a review
Sign In / Register
Sign In
Download the Waterstones App
Would you like to proceed to the App store to download the Waterstones App?