The Meritocracy Trap
How America's Foundational Myth Feeds Inequality, Dismantles the Middle Class, and Devours the Elite
by Daniel Markovits
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“@JSkeaping Both great books | This is the most interesting and provocative book I have read in a while. The author sits atop America's meritocracy. He is a Yale Law School Professor. But he argues that it has become a deeply dysfunctional and pernicious system causing crazed competition and anxiety for those on the inside succeeding and the sense of exclusion and isolation for those on the outside.”
Source →Recommended by 3 notable people, including Adam Grant and Sam Freedman
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Recommended by 4 sources and appears in Political, Most Recommended Books, and Finance.
A revolutionary new argument from eminent Yale Law professor Daniel Markovits attacking the false promise of meritocracy It is an axiom of American life that advantage should be earned through ability and effort. Even as the country divides itself at every turn, the meritocratic ideal that social and economic rewards should follow achievement rat...
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Recommended by 4 sources and appears in Political, Most Recommended Books, and Finance.
Recommended by notable people
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Sam Freedman
“@JSkeaping Both great books | This is the most interesting and provocative book I have read in a while. The author sits atop America's meritocracy. He is a Yale Law School Professor. But he argues that it has become a deeply dysfunctional and pernicious system causing crazed competition and anxiety for those on the inside succeeding and the sense of exclusion and isolation for those on the outside.”
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Not sure if this is the right fit?
Consider Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Recommended by 31 sources.
“Outliers reads like a series of captivating magazine profiles, each unpacking a hidden factor behind extraordinary success. Gladwell’s storytelling makes complex social science accessible, but the book relies on memorable anecdotes rather than offering systematic analysis. The book explores the idea that individual brilliance rarely stands alone; success often hinges on birth dates, cultural legacies, and the 10,000-hour rule. While the narratives are strong, the book overgeneralizes from handpicked examples, leaving skeptical readers questioning the conclusions. It’s most useful as a conversation starter about luck and timing—annoying if you want a rigorous academic treatise or a how-to guide for your own life.”
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The Meritocracy Trap
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