Utopia for Realists: And How We Can Get There Paperback – 8 February 2018

To begin with, I'm no optimist. I'd say I lie more on the pessimist end of the spectrum. But something about this book's title. The pessimist laughed at 'Utopia', but the sliver of hope questioned, 'For realists?'.With curiosity piqued, I picked up the book with absolutely zero expectation. However, I'm happy to report that this book is actually quite interesting and intriguing! Rutger Bregman starts by exploring the concept of the mythical Land of Plenty, a world of abundance—peak utopia, if you will. The author then paints a picture of our current situation, noting that every person living on Earth today has more resources than kings did a few centuries ago. Yet, despite this abundance, we have problems like poverty, unemployment, diseases, and many other issues yet to be solved. Bregman argues that we have stopped dreaming big. As he puts it, "as people and societies get progressively older, they become accustomed to the status quo."The book centers on three main themes: universal basic income (UBI), a 15-hour work week, and open borders. I'm sure at least one of these has already awakened the inner pessimist in you. But Bregman does a phenomenal job of backing up these seemingly absurd ideas with solid evidence. And the author reminds us that ideas like women's suffrage and equal rights for racial minorities too were "unthinkable" at one point in time.One of the highlights of the book for me is when the author, in a span of a page or two, explains how unemployment, rise of AI, stress levels, accidents, gender equality, aging population, inequality, and climate change can all be tackled with 15-hour work weeks and UBI alone, with supporting evidence for each of those issues. Yes, the pessimist must be held back, and you have to humor the idea, but when you do, it does seem plausible. As Bregman quotes one of the greatest economists ever, John Maynard Keynes, "The difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones."Utopia for Realists is packed with some fantastic and thought-provoking quotes. "Utopias are a breeding ground for discord, violence, even genocide. Utopias ultimately become dystopias; in fact, a utopia is a dystopia." or "...the conviction that you’re producing something of great value because you earn so much." And then there's this gem from Arthur C. Clarke: "The goal of the future is full unemployment, so we can play."All in all, it's a fantastic book. It's good enough to make a pessimist more hopeful. It's definitely a spark that could light the fire to an actual utopia. And it's sure to leave you pondering the possibilities!An easy and straightforward read, highly recommended!

It’s a good read for all Utopians

Eye opener! So many great ideas to ponder upon. I recommend it to any free thinker who believes there is need for radical change in this world which wants to stay-on -course!Changes many pre conceived notions and re affirms some which are falling out of favour

A must read book for all those who oppose socialism. This gives you a better understanding about the history of the world economy.

Should be part of school reading for the millenials who are growing up with their heads stuck into mobiles and life/relations turned into a line of emojies.

Thoroughly enjoying this book.

Refreshing outlook on possibilities that may lie ahead if we can tweak the way we perceive progress. Go for it - highly recommended.

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