This book presents a new perspective and set of talking points for an age old argument. How can we lift all boats without sinking some? The existential question is, do you even recognize all boats as being equal? If not, you’re more likely to see everything as a zero sum game. Something that this book shows is a mostly Caucasian American image of race relations but something that is now becoming endemic of crony capitalism in itself. Heather McGhee paints a painfully accurate and detailed accounting of how we got to the zero sum mentality. McGhee’s breakdown of the narratives that cost all of us so much prosperity had me searching for the exits. It was hard to see a glimmer of hope when centuries of bedrock racism has smothered every hope of progress. It’s in this moment when is when the real value in this book is seen. Wherein McGhee offers examples of prevailing outcomes that are using a new set of tools to break through the racist solidarity that keeps the zero sum game going. McGhee introduces near the end a new concept of the “Solidarity Dividend.” Payoffs that will truly lift all boats but only if we can come together to solve our education, healthcare, environmental, and other issues. The onus is on progressives to reconstruct a consistent and broadly appealing message that sets facts straight and shows how working together benefits the human interests of all parties. McGhee also provides a framework and examples for executing this paradigm shift. A challenging but inspiring read.

A fantastic mix of historical knowledge, data-based insights, and storytelling that effectively summarizes the origin and current state of race relations in the US.