A review by pasc96
How Much Is Enough?: Money and the Good Life by Edward Skidelsky, Robert Skidelsky

3.0

Addressing issues of systemic inequality and human insatiability, coupled with the earth's finite amount of resources, the Skidelskys tackle the many social and personal ills associated when a society commits to a growth-focused capitalistic economy. Focusing on Keynes' mistake, the qualities of what makes a "good" life, and the intangibles most humans dearly value in terms of life satisfaction, the authors strike a sometimes messy balance between ethics and morals while still making a convincing argument that a "good" life, in the long run, cannot be purchased. And while many of the presented ideas are compelling, they don't (at first read) lend themselves to versatile, widespread action. I'd love a companion piece where the authors offer a follow-up playbook of sorts, so the average citizen could successfully lobby their representatives, employers, and other community leaders to make real change based on some of the Skidelskys' theories. Perhaps that's expecting too much from the authors. But in this day and age, and particularly with so much at stake, such an argument becomes even more compelling with action items.