Cover of The Tyranny of Merit

Book · 2020 · Political Science

The Tyranny of Merit

What's Become of the Common Good?

by Michael J. Sandel · Recommended by 4 people on 4 podcasts

Why people recommend it

The Tyranny of Merit by Michael J. Sandel is a critical examination of modern meritocracy and its damaging effects on the social fabric, community, and the common good. On The Ezra Klein Show, Faiz Shakir recommended the book when asked for reading suggestions, identifying the author as a prominent justice philosopher at Harvard. Alex O'Connor also endorsed the work on Modern Wisdom, highlighting its efforts to undermine the foundational ideas of meritocracy and expose its moral arbitrariness. Discussing the work on No Stupid Questions, Angela Duckworth examined the 2020 release, lightheartedly noting how its direct title leaves no mystery about the author's critical perspective on the subject. Additionally, Lex Fridman referenced the book on the Lex Fridman Podcast while exploring broader conversations around the historical implications of testing, race, and the systemic structures of meritocracy.

Who recommended it

Faiz Shakir — 1 mention
Recommended
“uh so first is tyranny of Merit by Michael sandell's Justice philosopher at Harvard”
Angela Duckworth — 1 mention
Discussed
“And so this is, I think, his latest book It came out in 2020: The Tyranny of Merit What's Become of the Common Good Let me just say that neither of these titles makes it seem at all like they have a bias I'm just kidding Meritocracy Trap, The Tyranny of Merit, you don't have to guess, right”
Lex Fridman — 1 mention
Discussed
“Of course, there's, I guess, a colleague of yours, Michael Sandel, with 'Tyranny of Merit.'”
Alex O’Connor — 1 mention
Recommended
“there's a book by uh the harvard professor michael sandel called the tyranny of merit which seeks to undermine the entire idea of meritocracy on these grounds”

Also mentioned in the same episodes

Other mentions (1: passing, ad reads, own books)
Passing
“I mean it goes back further but it's been Michael sandel has written a book on it Daniel marovitz has written a book on it”