Can young people afford to pursue their passions anymore? That is the question proposed by Daniel Brook in his excellent first book The Trap.
His answer is a resounding no, and Brook believes our society’s widening income gap is the problem. His theory is that the same concentration of wealth that holds back young people from becoming what they want to be holds back the country from becoming what it wants to be.
“Having the time and ability to direct their own creativity and having enough money for a modest lifestyle are all most creative people desire,” he rightly claims. Unfortunately, surefire routes to the top like law or finance are neither enjoyable nor fulfilling and, “The choice educated young people face – to be a sellout or a saint – has no place in a prosperous democracy.”
Before launching into the issue of rapidly growing inequality and why that inequality exists, Brook gives some striking examples of people mired in the issue he’s discussing. Building a harsh case against Reaganomics and the impact it has on us today, he theorizes that today’s young people are canaries in a coalmine, and if we don’t actively work to fix this problem things will continue to worsen.
His solution is progressive taxation, and through an extensive exploration of the economic factors that contribute to the issue, he proves that the wealthiest nation on earth imposes what is essentially a flat tax on its citizens, no matter how rich or poor.
Poverty is equivalent to talent squandered, and Brook believes progressive taxation that funds a first-rate healthcare and education system would free America’s most talented to pursue their ambitions.
I picked up this book because the description spoke to me and touched on a lot of the issues I’m facing in my life. Brook skillfully articulates things I have never even been able to put into words, and his book has widened my perspective immensely. The Trap is an enlightening look at a pressing issue and I highly recommend it.
If you’re interested, you can read Thom Hartmann’s more detailed review here and Shadi this one is for you.
Brook also writes for the most powerful blog in the world, Arianna Huffington’s The Huffington Post.
