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Equal Is Unfair: America's Misguided Fight Against Income Inequality by Yaron Brook, Don Watkins
bootman's review against another edition
5.0
This was the most recent book I read by authors who follow Ayn Rand’s philosophy. I’ve heard Yaron Brook speak a few times in videos, but this was the first book I’ve read by him. Watkins and Brook argue for individualism and capitalism through the lens of Ayn Rand’s philosophy of objectivism. I’m pretty left-leaning but also know the importance of hard work, and as a recovering addict who had to get my life together, I believe in working to becoming self-supporting. But on the other hand, I’m a huge critic of our current state of capitalism and believe in social programs to help more people have true equality of opportunity. I must say that when I went into this book, I thought I was going to disagree with it from cover to cover, but I didn’t. I can honestly say that although I disagree with a lot of the opinions of the authors, they have made some of the best arguments I’ve read from this perspective.
Where I disagree with this book is that we’d lack innovation if we made our society more equal. And there’s a lot to be said about the fact that the authors use the same three or four billionaires as their examples throughout the book to say, “See, you can work hard and be fine.” They leave out a lot of the issues with capitalism and our currently rigged system. But where I agree with them is that hard work is important. I do think they’re wrong about a lot of things such as they believe we should completely eliminate any form of welfare, and their most silly view is that we should get rid of all forms of regulation and antitrust laws. I believe there are ideas from this book we on the left can use to figure out a way to help people while also ensuring that they know how to help themselves.
If you’re someone on the right, you probably already agree with most of this book. But I really think more people on the left should read this book. Like me, you’ll disagree with a lot of it, but you will find a lot of parts where you say, “Well, they do make a good point about this.”
Where I disagree with this book is that we’d lack innovation if we made our society more equal. And there’s a lot to be said about the fact that the authors use the same three or four billionaires as their examples throughout the book to say, “See, you can work hard and be fine.” They leave out a lot of the issues with capitalism and our currently rigged system. But where I agree with them is that hard work is important. I do think they’re wrong about a lot of things such as they believe we should completely eliminate any form of welfare, and their most silly view is that we should get rid of all forms of regulation and antitrust laws. I believe there are ideas from this book we on the left can use to figure out a way to help people while also ensuring that they know how to help themselves.
If you’re someone on the right, you probably already agree with most of this book. But I really think more people on the left should read this book. Like me, you’ll disagree with a lot of it, but you will find a lot of parts where you say, “Well, they do make a good point about this.”
booksatthebeach's review against another edition
4.0
Don and Yaron lay out a compelling case for capitalism as a cure, but I do wonder if they have considered bad actors in capitalism, and how those actions create more divide in our imperfect system.
rahldynasty's review against another edition
5.0
Makes a great case based on empirical evidence and philosophical reasoning. This book is a great start in understanding individualist ideals.
jivemart's review against another edition
1.0
This book was nothing more than a defense of individualism at the expense of the greater good. The government was the bad guy for trying to hold us all back from success by making rules to help benefit the underprivileged in an effort to make things more equal. According to the author, we are all given the same chance at succeeding in America and anyone who is still complaining things aren't fair are part of the problem and happy living in a welfare state. The book's conclusions were trite and gross. I wanted to read this with an open mind and yet the pervasive railing against government interference, lazy welfare people, and the belief that somehow when businesses are freed up from government rule they will benefit and take care of our communities was a little hard to swallow.
melisscharber's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent read! Should be required reading for high school students. The authors lay out clearly the path that those who shout inequality where it leads. Individual rights are the only way for innovation & success can happen. A collective mindset brings down the whole. This book makes a compelling case that if we continue down the path we are on, what we know of the land of the free will no doubt be destroyed. Well written book!
bethmitcham's review
1.0
The authors kept setting up ridiculous straw men, and then exulting over how ridiculous these people were. But they never provided any evidence for their claims, and the times I looked up their references they didn't support the way they were used. It was a pointless read, which is a shame because there are interesting things to talk about in this space, but Watkins and Brooks don't seem able to understand how to do that.
For example, dismissing slavery when extolling the individualistic purity of colonial America is a bit "other than that, how was the play, Mrs Lincoln?" Or using advertising copy as evidence that upward mobility was easy in the 1800s. That's about the level these guys work at consistently throughout the book. A newspaper article describing how money from family abroad leaves darker Cubans behind is mocked as complaining about inequality. Facts are just facts, guys. Sorry if they don't sound like an Ayn Rand novel.
For example, dismissing slavery when extolling the individualistic purity of colonial America is a bit "other than that, how was the play, Mrs Lincoln?" Or using advertising copy as evidence that upward mobility was easy in the 1800s. That's about the level these guys work at consistently throughout the book. A newspaper article describing how money from family abroad leaves darker Cubans behind is mocked as complaining about inequality. Facts are just facts, guys. Sorry if they don't sound like an Ayn Rand novel.
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