What Social Classes Owe to Each Other
What Social Classes Owe to Each Other
Nonfiction | Book | Adult
Book Brief
Beta145
Book • Nonfiction
1880s
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
In What Social Classes Owe to Each Other, William Graham Sumner argues that social classes primarily owe nothing to each other beyond respecting individual rights and allowing freedom. He emphasizes personal responsibility, limited government intervention, and the importance of self-reliance, critiquing charity that disrupts social and economic systems.
Informative
Challenging
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
189 ratings
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Mixed feelings
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Review Roundup
Sumner's What Social Classes Owe to Each Other presents a stark defense of laissez-faire capitalism, advocating minimal government intervention. Positive reviews note its thought-provoking exploration of individual responsibility, while critics argue it overlooks systemic inequalities and lacks empathy. The book remains a polarizing yet influential work on socio-economic thought.
Who Should Read What Social Classes Owe to Each Other?
A reader intrigued by social and economic philosophy, particularly the laissez-faire ideology, would enjoy What Social Classes Owe to Each Other by William Graham Sumner. Fans of Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations or Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged will find its exploration of class responsibilities and individualism compelling.
189 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
145
Book • Nonfiction
1880s
Adult
18+ years
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