Fair Shot

Rethinking Inequality and How We Earn

By: Chris Hughes

Narrated by: Chris Hughes

Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

In this fascinating audiobook, Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes argues that the best way to fight income inequality is with a radically simple idea: a guaranteed income for working people, paid for by the one percent.

The first half of Chris Hughes's life played like a movie reel right out of the "American Dream". He grew up in a small town in North Carolina. His parents were people of modest means, but he was accepted into an elite boarding school and then Harvard, both on scholarship. There, he met Mark Zuckerberg and Dustin Moskovitz and became one of the co-founders of Facebook.

In telling his story, Hughes demonstrates the powerful role fortune and luck play in today's economy. Through the rocket ship rise of Facebook, Hughes came to understand how a select few can become ultra-wealthy nearly overnight. He believes the same forces that made Facebook possible have made it harder for everyone else in America to make ends meet.

To help people who are struggling, Hughes proposes a simple, bold solution: a guaranteed income for working people, including unpaid caregivers and students, paid for by the one percent. The way Hughes sees it, a guaranteed income is the most powerful tool we have to combat poverty and stabilize America's middle class. Money - cold hard cash with no strings attached - gives people freedom, dignity, and the ability to climb the economic ladder. A guaranteed income for working people is the big idea that's missing in the national conversation.

This audiobook, grounded in Hughes's personal experience, will start a frank conversation about how we earn in modern America, how we can combat income inequality, and ultimately, how we can give everyone a Fair Shot.

©2018 Chris Hughes (P)2018 Macmillan Audio

Be Open Minded

I enjoyed this book and I could tell the ideas were well thought through. I bought it expecting to not like the idea, but was surprised to find that I did, especially as presented. I can see this being something that could gain traction on both sides of the isle. It’s an interesting concept....

Good intro

I’m reading this book for a class dedicated to understanding and ultimately writing a research paper focusing on UBI. While this book is not about UBI but a guaranteed income I thoroughly enjoyed the ideas and research presented in the book. My only criticism is that It probably could have been more concise. If you’re interested in a UBI or guaranteed income program I would recommend this as a good choice to begin research. Also if you’re skeptical about how a guaranteed income would affect you and you’re community this book covers a lot of topics addressing common concerns.

Wonderful!

Excellent book! Extremely thought provoking! For someone whom hadn't given this concept of a basic income much thought it has made me deeply consider this as one possible solution to inequality in our country.

Loved it!

So much wisdom and so much to think about! I loved the book and he touched many subject I have given deep though to, so great to finally find people thinking the same way. Read it, you won’t regret it.