The Spirit Level by Richard Wilkinson

This book presents a compelling argument that income inequality within a society leads to a wide range of social and health problems. The authors use a variety of statistical data from different countries to show that societies with more equal distribution of incomes have better health, fewer social problems such as violence, drug abuse, and mental illness, and are more cohesive than ones in which the gap between the rich and poor is greater. The book challenges the notion that societal problems are inevitable in modern, developed societies and offers a new way of understanding how we can improve the quality of life for all.

The 8610th greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 72

Since this book was first published in 2009, there is a penalty of 56.0%. The age adjusted score is 31.68.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.