In witnessing these patterns play out, Yang found himself forced to an unwelcome conclusion: The market cares nothing for the well-being of employees, rewarding scale and consolidation at every turn. Inside this bubble, the idea that a company would give up a potential efficiency gain in order to retain employees is heretical, and companies routinely hone their cutting edge by automating one step ahead of the competition. He has seen firsthand how politicians and masters of industry leverage their wealth and influence to grow their careers and businesses, and assures the reader with confidence that “I am writing from inside the tech bubble to let you know that we are coming for your jobs” (xi). Yang’s perspective is anchored by his personal experience in the world of traditional Ivy League elitism, as well as a more recent endeavor as a Silicon Valley entrepreneur. His case is persuasive, data-driven, and damned scary. In Part One, “What’s Happening to Jobs,” Yang explicates the societal threat posed by automation, also referred to as technological unemployment. However, a hopeful path to positive solutions awaits readers willing to power through the first two sections. It comes as no surprise that one of his early readers suggested changing the titled to “ We’re Fucked” (165). But the majority of the book’s content is extremely grim. Not tough to understand––on the contrary, Yang’s writing is clean and balanced, with an appropriate smattering of personal anecdotes that humanize and endear him to the reader. If you’re considering reading this book, be warned: it is tough.
Yang’s excellent book, The War on Normal People, is the boldest and best argument for UBI to date. Yang’s central campaign issue is the institution of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) for all Americans, a daring and promising idea that has been on my radar for some years now. Yang, who is running for President in 2020, immediately struck me as honest, intelligent, well-informed, and profoundly reasonable––a heroic foil for the repugnant personalities that dominate today’s national politics.
Like many others, I discovered Andrew Yang by way of his excellent interview with Sam Harris last month.
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