The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together
- Downloads：5825
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-04-19 06:52:14
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Heather McGhee
- ISBN：0525509585
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD - One of today's most insightful and influential thinkers offers a powerful exploration of inequality and the lesson that generations of Americans have failed to learn: Racism has a cost for everyone--not just for people of color。
WINNER OF THE PORCHLIGHT BUSINESS BOOK AWARD - ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Time， The Washington Post， St。 Louis Post-Dispatch， Ms。 magazine， BookRiot， Library Journal - LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL - "This is the book I've been waiting for。"--Ibram X。 Kendi， #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Be an Antiracist
Heather McGhee's specialty is the American economy--and the mystery of why it so often fails the American public。 From the financial crisis of 2008 to rising student debt to collapsing public infrastructure， she found a root problem: racism in our politics and policymaking。 But not just in the most obvious indignities for people of color。 Racism has costs for white people， too。 It is the common denominator of our most vexing public problems， the core dysfunction of our democracy and constitutive of the spiritual and moral crises that grip us all。 But how did this happen？ And is there a way out？
McGhee embarks on a deeply personal journey across the country from Maine to Mississippi to California， tallying what we lose when we buy into the zero-sum paradigm--the idea that progress for some of us must come at the expense of others。 Along the way， she meets white people who confide in her about losing their homes， their dreams， and their shot at better jobs to the toxic mix of American racism and greed。 This is the story of how public goods in this country--from parks and pools to functioning schools--have become private luxuries; of how unions collapsed， wages stagnated， and inequality increased; and of how this country， unique among the world's advanced economies， has thwarted universal healthcare。
But in unlikely places of worship and work， McGhee finds proof of what she calls the Solidarity Dividend: the benefits we gain when people come together across race to accomplish what we simply can't do on our own。 The Sum of Us is not only a brilliant analysis of how we arrived here but also a heartfelt message， delivered with startling empathy， from a black woman to a multiracial America。 It leaves us with a new vision for a future in which we finally realize that life can be more than a zero-sum game。
WINNER OF THE PORCHLIGHT BUSINESS BOOK AWARD - ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Time， The Washington Post， St。 Louis Post-Dispatch， Ms。 magazine， BookRiot， Library Journal - LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL - "This is the book I've been waiting for。"--Ibram X。 Kendi， #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Be an Antiracist
Heather McGhee's specialty is the American economy--and the mystery of why it so often fails the American public。 From the financial crisis of 2008 to rising student debt to collapsing public infrastructure， she found a root problem: racism in our politics and policymaking。 But not just in the most obvious indignities for people of color。 Racism has costs for white people， too。 It is the common denominator of our most vexing public problems， the core dysfunction of our democracy and constitutive of the spiritual and moral crises that grip us all。 But how did this happen？ And is there a way out？
McGhee embarks on a deeply personal journey across the country from Maine to Mississippi to California， tallying what we lose when we buy into the zero-sum paradigm--the idea that progress for some of us must come at the expense of others。 Along the way， she meets white people who confide in her about losing their homes， their dreams， and their shot at better jobs to the toxic mix of American racism and greed。 This is the story of how public goods in this country--from parks and pools to functioning schools--have become private luxuries; of how unions collapsed， wages stagnated， and inequality increased; and of how this country， unique among the world's advanced economies， has thwarted universal healthcare。
But in unlikely places of worship and work， McGhee finds proof of what she calls the Solidarity Dividend: the benefits we gain when people come together across race to accomplish what we simply can't do on our own。 The Sum of Us is not only a brilliant analysis of how we arrived here but also a heartfelt message， delivered with startling empathy， from a black woman to a multiracial America。 It leaves us with a new vision for a future in which we finally realize that life can be more than a zero-sum game。
Reviews
Sheree Meyer
，
Highly detailed and at times almost overwhelming in its truth-telling， every page of this book brought me back to rethinking and revisioning my ways of viewing the many problems--economic， political， social， etc。--we face today。 McGhee's book helped me put the pieces of the zero-sum perspective together to foreground the perverse logic undermining the public good。 Highly detailed and at times almost overwhelming in its truth-telling， every page of this book brought me back to rethinking and revisioning my ways of viewing the many problems--economic， political， social， etc。--we face today。 McGhee's book helped me put the pieces of the zero-sum perspective together to foreground the perverse logic undermining the public good。 。。。more
Claudia Holland
，
Beautifully Written， and Thought Provoking。 A very contemporary book on what racism in our country is costing us as a society。 Beautifully written， easy to understand， and filled with anecdotes that prove over and over that diversity and the recognition of it is our ultimate strength。
Alex Liuzzi
，
（Audio） - after the first couple chapters I was excited to read another book that reiterated what I already knew in ways I already knew it。 Quickly， though， McGee floored me with her impossibly well researched and laid out thesis within multiple themes that told stories in ways I had never heard but were ultimately obvious。 This is a book every white person should read and no matter your starting point， read with a blank slate。 This is the true mess of our country and the only， I now believe， wa （Audio） - after the first couple chapters I was excited to read another book that reiterated what I already knew in ways I already knew it。 Quickly， though， McGee floored me with her impossibly well researched and laid out thesis within multiple themes that told stories in ways I had never heard but were ultimately obvious。 This is a book every white person should read and no matter your starting point， read with a blank slate。 This is the true mess of our country and the only， I now believe， way forward…though my optimism for the path she lays out is not strong。 。。。more
Gillie
，
This is one of those books I wish I could have everyone read and absorb。 With data， research， and anecdotes， McGhee shows how racism hurts ALL Americans in nearly every aspect of our lives。 She makes a very compelling case against the idea of a zero-sum economy in which there have to be losers and winners and shows， instead， how working across race and class for the good of all brings results that benefit everyone -- economically， culturally， and emotionally （with emphasis on the economics）。 She This is one of those books I wish I could have everyone read and absorb。 With data， research， and anecdotes， McGhee shows how racism hurts ALL Americans in nearly every aspect of our lives。 She makes a very compelling case against the idea of a zero-sum economy in which there have to be losers and winners and shows， instead， how working across race and class for the good of all brings results that benefit everyone -- economically， culturally， and emotionally （with emphasis on the economics）。 She lays out a clear vision for why and how to create a better world that works for all。I listened to the audiobook， and her reading is also excellent。 She seems to draw out the speech patterns and cadences of the people she interviews without ever seeming like she's "doing" a voice。 。。。more
Bruce Sembar
，
Have won so many books in the last year that I haven’t had a chance to read it yet。 But it is definitely high on my get to list
Carole
，
The zero sum premise is one that I was not familiar with before reading this book。 McGhee applies it to systemic racism in an incredibly accessible and revealing way， shining light on the real problems （hint: it's white people） with our healthcare， economy， upward mobility and more。 Highly recommended for those seeking a deeper understanding of the legacy of slavery。 The zero sum premise is one that I was not familiar with before reading this book。 McGhee applies it to systemic racism in an incredibly accessible and revealing way， shining light on the real problems （hint: it's white people） with our healthcare， economy， upward mobility and more。 Highly recommended for those seeking a deeper understanding of the legacy of slavery。 。。。more
Jessica Freedman
，
I recently finished ‘The Sum of Us’ and needed a few extra days to process all of my thoughts。 This book is a necessary read， Heather McGhee brings incredible insight and perspective to what systemic racism has cost everyone。 It’s written in a way to not be too dry or academic yet at the same time it’s a weighty subject that you can’t just fly through the pages， you have to stop and ponder。 It’s unfortunate that so many believe that in order for others to benefit， they have to suffer or lose。 Th I recently finished ‘The Sum of Us’ and needed a few extra days to process all of my thoughts。 This book is a necessary read， Heather McGhee brings incredible insight and perspective to what systemic racism has cost everyone。 It’s written in a way to not be too dry or academic yet at the same time it’s a weighty subject that you can’t just fly through the pages， you have to stop and ponder。 It’s unfortunate that so many believe that in order for others to benefit， they have to suffer or lose。 That simply is not the case “…the sum of us can accomplish far more than just some of us。”Reading this book put me through a wide range of emotions: anger， disbelief， fury， and yet also hope。 Change is possible and needed。 We are all part of the solution。 。。。more
Emma
，
I found this a really excellent， and accessible， weaving together of complex ideas about how racism and capitalism operate in the United States， meaningfully paired with stories of real people and contemporary politics （2010-2020）。
Mark Archer
，
Well written and very informative， I can say I learned some new things and gained some perspective on topics I was only mildly knowledgable。 I liked the mixture of Mcghee presenting information based on research and also the use of her own voice and experiences。 Her tone matches the subject matter and her words are backed up by solid fact based research。
Jean Becker
，
This is a book club pick， a book club formed around reading social justice topics。 What a brilliant beginning。 Heather McGhee is an amazing academic who makes research read like a story。 She never talks down to her reader or repeats herself。 She does take the thread of zero-sum thinking and hammer it into a fine wire interwoven from the past to now and into the future。 Her TED talk is a brief introduction to this jam packed book。Our discussion was powerful。 We have 2 more sessions planned on thi This is a book club pick， a book club formed around reading social justice topics。 What a brilliant beginning。 Heather McGhee is an amazing academic who makes research read like a story。 She never talks down to her reader or repeats herself。 She does take the thread of zero-sum thinking and hammer it into a fine wire interwoven from the past to now and into the future。 Her TED talk is a brief introduction to this jam packed book。Our discussion was powerful。 We have 2 more sessions planned on this book。 Everyone left the room jazzed with insights， recognitions and desires to do better。 。。。more
Keaton Green
，
A great read on all the ways racism has held us back as a country （ie the draining and defunding of America’s great public pool system as soon as they became integrated） and the wealthy white Americans historic use of racism to break a multi-race class coalition which has been going since before America was a country。
Erin
，
Generally not that interested in content about why racism is bad for white people， but I think this book is so much more that that。 McGhee does such a good job of explaining the zero sum game around racial progress that has been reinforced by white elites to hoard power and resources。 I'd recommend this for anyone doing advocacy work in a red state that is growing increasingly diverse。 4 stars because certain chapters were a little repetitive for me。 Generally not that interested in content about why racism is bad for white people， but I think this book is so much more that that。 McGhee does such a good job of explaining the zero sum game around racial progress that has been reinforced by white elites to hoard power and resources。 I'd recommend this for anyone doing advocacy work in a red state that is growing increasingly diverse。 4 stars because certain chapters were a little repetitive for me。 。。。more
Emmanuel Macías Navarrete
，
The perspective brought forth is one I haven’t really fully thought about。
Nat
，
It doesn't feel quite right to only give this book three stars。 A good read， not too long， and with plenty of well-researched and utterly convincing stories and perspectives。 I would have loved it if it was slightly more global in its vision。 While the author was extremely familiar with the features and consequences of the US political， economic and social systems that have given rise to the racial zero-sum game， I was left wondering what other experiences around the world can teach us。 In parti It doesn't feel quite right to only give this book three stars。 A good read， not too long， and with plenty of well-researched and utterly convincing stories and perspectives。 I would have loved it if it was slightly more global in its vision。 While the author was extremely familiar with the features and consequences of the US political， economic and social systems that have given rise to the racial zero-sum game， I was left wondering what other experiences around the world can teach us。 In particular， I now want to read a book from the Aotearoa NZ perspective， where history and colonisation has proceeded somewhat differently， but the stories told are often similar。I'm reminded of a talk that I saw a clip of recently， following the sad death of Moana Jackson， in which he asked why indigenous people from across the colonised world have been targeted by their justice systems and disproportionately locked up。 Of course there's nothing inherently more criminal about indigenous people - it is a perfectly evil consequence of global colonisation。 A bit of a tangent， but the missing parts of this book （from my perspective in Aotearoa） are the reason why I'd only rate it three stars。 。。。more
Emma
，
Nothing newThe facts were interesting but added nothing new to narrative of other similar books addressing racism from social science lens。 Arrives at foregone conclusions， offers no real concrete policy solutions。 I expected alot more from this and was disappointed by facile ending
Bonnie
，
A necessary read。 McGhee is an economist and her argument is both concise and well-supported。 Definitely glad I have this to recommend to everyone I know。
Chelsea
，
I discovered some of my own beliefs about the zero-sum race narrative being tackled and deconstructed。 The author argues her points very well， and everyone can gain some perspective when reading this book。 I wish there was more insight into how people of color who weren't black fit into her points though。 I discovered some of my own beliefs about the zero-sum race narrative being tackled and deconstructed。 The author argues her points very well， and everyone can gain some perspective when reading this book。 I wish there was more insight into how people of color who weren't black fit into her points though。 。。。more
Dwreads
，
On some level a great deal of what is in this book I already was aware of， but I had never put the pieces together the way Heather McGhee has。 This book is important ， vital and necessary for everyone to read if we want to find our way forward to have a functional， equitable and just country。I have no doubt that some people will say this is just left-wing politics and "fake information"。 That is not， what it is， it is clear a path forward， a roadmap to a better life for us all。 A country that re On some level a great deal of what is in this book I already was aware of， but I had never put the pieces together the way Heather McGhee has。 This book is important ， vital and necessary for everyone to read if we want to find our way forward to have a functional， equitable and just country。I have no doubt that some people will say this is just left-wing politics and "fake information"。 That is not， what it is， it is clear a path forward， a roadmap to a better life for us all。 A country that rejects the structural racism and racial inequality that is often invisible to many of us。 One that also it makes clear the poisonous story that has been created to keep those not in power， powerless， fighting and distrusting each other。 The myth of a zero-sum world is corrosive， counter productive to all of us and the costs are higher than most people can imagine。 。。。more
Debbie Lunsford
，
I know when I take down a full page of notes - facts I hadn't known/understood well enough - and want to look back at them here and again that I've read a fine book。 Well documented （at least a fourth of the book is the documentation） and very readable。 I know when I take down a full page of notes - facts I hadn't known/understood well enough - and want to look back at them here and again that I've read a fine book。 Well documented （at least a fourth of the book is the documentation） and very readable。 。。。more
Monique Mesot Foister
，
Fantastic！！ Thorough and engaging and enlightening！！ All Americans should read this， especially white people。
Amanda
，
A lot of this was four stars for me， but she has a number of underlying assumptions she doesn’t make a case for， but assumes the reader agrees with （pretty much every kind of government spending is necessary， Americans have an “unhealthy obsession” with guns， Republican ideas about the trickle-down economy are wrong）。 Given that a major point of the book is that diversity of thought benefits all involved， she’s writing for a non-diverse political viewpoint。 Still recommended， even just for the h A lot of this was four stars for me， but she has a number of underlying assumptions she doesn’t make a case for， but assumes the reader agrees with （pretty much every kind of government spending is necessary， Americans have an “unhealthy obsession” with guns， Republican ideas about the trickle-down economy are wrong）。 Given that a major point of the book is that diversity of thought benefits all involved， she’s writing for a non-diverse political viewpoint。 Still recommended， even just for the heartwarming last chapter。 。。。more
Linda Owen
，
Another thought-provoking， anger-inducing book about the history of racism and what it has cost all of us， including the really rich who do everything to keep things the way they are。 I admit that it was hard to read so best in small pieces and I was really tired of the phrase "zero sum" but it's one of those books that everyone should read and those who need it most won't。 She stresses the need for cooperation among all groups to make American great， really for the first time。 She shows how our Another thought-provoking， anger-inducing book about the history of racism and what it has cost all of us， including the really rich who do everything to keep things the way they are。 I admit that it was hard to read so best in small pieces and I was really tired of the phrase "zero sum" but it's one of those books that everyone should read and those who need it most won't。 She stresses the need for cooperation among all groups to make American great， really for the first time。 She shows how our history has always been racist since the beginning and how gains are often undone or at least weakened。 A worthy partner to The New Jim Crow， Caste， and How to be an Antiracist。 。。。more
Jian Jiang
，
It’s such an important topic for our modern world but this book is just very hard for me to read。 I picked up the book four times and decided not to finish it， left 1。5 chapters behind。 The structure of this book needs so much clarity and conciseness。 I felt the author’s narrative is very redundant and long paragraphs and sentences are just confusing。 Maybe one day I can finish it
Tara
，
Informative & Extremely Well-writtenNever have I been more eager to recommend a book to others。 I have shared this book title with co-workers， in volunteer spaces， on social media， and of course， to friends and family。 I learned many new things about racism in this country while reading this。 The content was impactful， well-researched， and laid out in a way that made it easy to picture and understand。 The writing was smooth and natural， with a great flow that tied things together in a compelling Informative & Extremely Well-writtenNever have I been more eager to recommend a book to others。 I have shared this book title with co-workers， in volunteer spaces， on social media， and of course， to friends and family。 I learned many new things about racism in this country while reading this。 The content was impactful， well-researched， and laid out in a way that made it easy to picture and understand。 The writing was smooth and natural， with a great flow that tied things together in a compelling way。 I cannot recommend this book enough。 Just read it， please。 :） 。。。more
DeAnna
，
“We can rebuild a building， but we cannot rebuild a human。” We must stop treating others as if they are property。
Marc Smith
，
This book is a fantastic counterargument to the prevailing "wisdom" that helping one person hurts another。 The author offers numerous examples of how working to eliminate systemic racism benefits the entire country。 This book is a fantastic counterargument to the prevailing "wisdom" that helping one person hurts another。 The author offers numerous examples of how working to eliminate systemic racism benefits the entire country。 。。。more
Liz Green Brunton
，
Dense with statistics and research but peppered with compelling personal stories that make this difficult subject engaging and readable。 One of the best non fiction books I've ever read。 Dense with statistics and research but peppered with compelling personal stories that make this difficult subject engaging and readable。 One of the best non fiction books I've ever read。 。。。more
Susan
，
Learned alot。 Necessary reading for all of us。
Shelly Chmil
，
This is a book for every American。 From housing， to college costs， to climate change and public pools this book focuses on broad range of topics that are driven by racism and effect every American regardless of the color of their skin。 Books such as these have empowered me to speak up and speak out when necessary。 Because it’s no longer ok for me to stay silent。
David Peters
，