BOOK BRIEF

What Social Classes Owe to Each Other

William Graham Sumner
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What Social Classes Owe to Each Other

Nonfiction | Book | Adult

Book Brief

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William Graham Sumner

What Social Classes Owe to Each Other

Nonfiction | Book | Adult
Book Details
Pages

145

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Genre
Philosophy

Education
Setting

1880s

Topic
Philosophy

Business & Economics

Education
Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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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

3.9

189 ratings

63%

Loved it

17%

Mixed feelings

20%

Not a fan

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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 this

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.

3.9

189 ratings

63%

Loved it

17%

Mixed feelings

20%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

145

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Genre
Philosophy

Education
Setting

1880s

Topic
Philosophy

Business & Economics

Education
Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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