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The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger Audiobook
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It is a well-established fact that in rich societies the poor have shorter lives and suffer more from almost every social problem. The Spirit Level, based on thirty years of research, takes this truth a step further. One common factor links the healthiest and happiest societies: the degree of equality among their members. Further, more unequal societies are bad for everyone within them—the rich and middle class as well as the poor. The remarkable data assembled in The Spirit Level exposes stark differences, not only among the nations of the first world but even within America's fifty states. Almost every modern social problem—poor health, violence, lack of community life, teen pregnancy, mental illness—is more likely to occur in a less-equal society. Renowned researchers Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett lay bare the contradictions between material success and social failure in the developed world. But they do not merely tell us what's wrong. They offer a way toward a new political outlook, shifting from self-interested consumerism to a friendlier, more sustainable society.
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"I wish I could buy every elected official a copy. This book contains extensive, long-term data from a public health perspective, no narrow agenda, to demonstrate that more equal societies (i.e. less of a gap between the richest and the poorest) benefit ALL levels in the society. They also show that more unequal states have the same problems within the state. Page 261, "if the USA was to reduce its income inequality to something like the average of the four most equal of the rich countries, the proportion of the population feeling they could trust others might rise by 75% - presumably with matching improvements in the quality of community life; rates of mental illness and obesity might similarly each be cut by almost two-thirds [across all incomes], teenage birth rates could be more than halved, prison populations might be reduced by 75%, and people could live longer while working the equivalent of two months less per year." So even if we became a little more equal, all members of society would benefit to some extent. Before you conclude "socialists!!" the authors remind us that more equality can be achieved several ways, not just the presumptive higher tax rates on the rich. To treat inequality as a public health problem made sense to me; we know the solutions; all we need is political will and community spirit to accomplish it."
— Meepspeeps (5 out of 5 stars)
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“Might be the most important book of the year.”
— Guardian (London) -
“Wilkinson and Pickett make an eloquent case that the income gap between a nation’s richest and poorest is the most powerful indicator of a functioning and healthy society…Felicitous prose and fascinating findings make this essential reading.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) -
“In this fascinating sociological study, the authors do an excellent job of presenting the research, analyzing nuances, and offering policy suggestions for creating more equal and sustainable societies. For all readers, specialized or not, with an interest in understanding the dynamics today between economic and social conditions.”
— Library Journal -
Wilkinson and Pickett make an eloquent case that the income gap between a nation's richest and poorest is the most powerful indicator of a functioning and healthy society.…Felicitous prose and fascinating findings make this essential [listening].
— Publishers Weekly Starred Review
The Spirit Level Listener Reviews
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Johan Pitkanen, 12/9/2022
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" Flat narration makes a vitally important book sound boring. Pity "
— carloricci, 7/22/2022 -
" While I definitely agreed with the thesis and conclusion, I found myself unimpressed by how much their arguments leaned on Social Darwinism, which is so often used as the go-to argument for defending the status quo. That being said, at least it is here being used to justify a major shift in thinking from selfishness to altruism, from isolationism to care for the community. That I whole-heartedly agree is a change we need to make, and I would therefore recommend this book to everybody. "
— Kirsten, 2/15/2014 -
" Although for me and most of the people I know, the basis of this book is preaching to the choir, it is certainly good to have our innate feelings supported by clear data and statistics. For people who come from a standpoint of empathy, social justice and social cohesion, it's obvious to us that equality is needed, especially income equality these days. But saying something is the right thing to do morally is one thing; showing it is the right thing to do in a concrete way - showing the good that comes out of more equal societies with hard facts and numbers - is likely to be much more persuasive and effective with regard to those for whom empathy is, shall we say, lacking. "
— Alison, 2/5/2014 -
" I received this book for free through the Good Reads first reads program. This is a very well laid out book with a ton of research that is easy to understand. Well thought out and written this book really changed my perspective. I was always under the impression that most of societies ills were driven by money but from the view that richer countries were better off. This book took that idea and flipped it upside down. I found it to not only be compelling but convincing as well and I would highly recommend this book for any one who likes to dig a little deeper. "
— Jay, 2/1/2014 -
" Nice collection of statistical information and also interesting combination of facts. Not very specific in the calculations though, written in a rather 'dry' language without being as informative as it wants to sound like. The main hypothesis is good, the proof incomplete; and the last chapter too philosophical. "
— Sebastian, 1/29/2014 -
" An interesting book in that the charts are fascinating with Canada showing up regularly as a happy medium, the Scandinavian countries and, particularly, Japan well ahead of every other country and the United States failing miserably in all areas. The writers seemed in the beginning to blame the poor, the uneducated and the socially inept for the failures of our modern societies and then, towards the end, to turn to blaming the wealthy, the well-educated and socially conscious for greed and over-consumption. Their main suggestion for improving life in general was for workers to buy up the industries in which they work and run them themselves. I was expecting they would concentrate on education being the road to a successful future but they didn't. Disappointing. "
— Maggiemuggins, 1/27/2014 -
" A really interesting book that brings up many good points about the benefits of having an equal society. I was quite shocked at how poorly Australia rated on several of the indices. "
— Kathryn, 1/19/2014 -
" Excellent. Really lays out where our problems are coming from. Wish Washington was listening. "
— Cheryl, 8/25/2013 -
" Very good. Seems something that many more people should read, especially politicians - President Obama seems to be taking note currently and striving for a more equal society, as are a few of the super-rich in the US (Gates, Buffett etc). "
— Ian, 8/18/2013 -
" An accessible read covering equality and inequality in the richest societies. If curiosity leads you down the road related to this topic this book will be a valuable read. "
— Nick, 4/23/2013 -
" A book that encourages thinking about inequality and injustice. It is also an intriguing study of research methods and how interpretations from data emerge. It is a controversial book, but as a study of international inequality, it is very successful. "
— Tara, 4/1/2013 -
" Insightful study showing strong correlation between inequality and every social I'll conceivable, but the writing is awful. "
— J., 2/8/2013 -
" This is a really interesting book with overwhelming evidence that the widening gap between rich and poor is detrimental to the whole of society. To me it is no brainer! "
— Emma, 2/5/2013 -
" Too many graphs that don't seem to be backed by hard evidence (too much handwaving use of statistical tools) but makes a good and probably somewhat valid general point! "
— Florian, 1/22/2013 -
" An important and well-researched book. It makes me even more frustrated with the state of our politics. Ugh! "
— Alice, 9/5/2012 -
" I agree with the premise but who doesn't? Its the assumptions and sketchy data that made this an uncomfortable read for me. Perhaps I need to mull it over before I review it here. "
— Julia, 8/3/2012 -
" If you're worried about income inequality, this book is a slam dunk. Great data, well written. "
— Graeme, 7/3/2012 -
" Not sure what the scatterplots meant if anything, but I would like to trust my fellow citizens. . . "
— Susie, 4/17/2012
About the Authors
Kate Pickett is a professor of epidemiology at the University of York and a National Institute for Health Research career scientist.
Richard Wilkinson has played a formative role in international research on inequality, and his work has been published in ten languages. He is professor emeritus at the University of Nottingham Medical School.
About Clive Chafer
Clive Chafer is a professional actor, director, producer, and theater instructor. Originally from England and educated at Leeds and Exeter universities, he has performed and directed at many theaters in the San Francisco area, where he makes his home, and elsewhere in the US. In 1993 he founded TheatreFIRST, Oakland’s professional theater company, where he served as artistic director until 2008.