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The War on Normal People: The Truth About America's Disappearing Jobs and Why Universal Basic Income Is Our Future Paperback – Illustrated, April 2, 2019
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The shift toward automation is about to create a tsunami of unemployment. Not in the distant future--now. One recent estimate predicts 45 million American workers will lose their jobs within the next twelve years--jobs that won't be replaced. In a future marked by restlessness and chronic unemployment, what will happen to American society?
In The War on Normal People, Andrew Yang paints a dire portrait of the American economy. Rapidly advancing technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics and automation software are making millions of Americans' livelihoods irrelevant. The consequences of these trends are already being felt across our communities in the form of political unrest, drug use, and other social ills. The future looks dire-but is it unavoidable?
In The War on Normal People, Yang imagines a different future--one in which having a job is distinct from the capacity to prosper and seek fulfillment. At this vision's core is Universal Basic Income, the concept of providing all citizens with a guaranteed income-and one that is rapidly gaining popularity among forward-thinking politicians and economists. Yang proposes that UBI is an essential step toward a new, more durable kind of economy, one he calls "human capitalism."
- Print length304 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateApril 2, 2019
- Dimensions5.45 x 1.15 x 8.2 inches
- ISBN-100316414212
- ISBN-13978-0316414210
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"This book is a must read. Andrew Yang is tackling one of the biggest challenges facing our country the way only an entrepreneur can, but unlike most, he sees the big picture. Making money is good for you-but building a strong society and strong people is good for all of us. The topics Andrew addresses in this book aren't about some dystopian future way down the road. These things are happening today, and every entrepreneur should read this book to understand the challenges of the next decade."―Daymond John, starof ABC's Shark Tank, bestselling author of The Power of Broke, andfounder of FUBU
"In this powerful book, Andrew Yang highlights the urgent need to rewrite America's social contract. In a call to arms that comes from both head and heart, Yang has made an important contribution to the debate about where America is headed and what we need to do about it."―Alec Ross, New York Times bestsellingauthor of The Industries of the Future
"America desperately needs a wake-up call. This book will open your eyes to the ongoing effects of automation. Fortunately, aside from knowing full well the many challenges we face, Andrew Yang has a firm grasp of the solutions, most especially our need for Universal Basic Income. Read this book and hear the urgent call for abundance over scarcity, and humanity over abject madness. The clock is ticking."―Scott Santens,Director, U.S. Basic Income Guarantee Network
"Andrew Yang writes with passion and conviction, offering astute analysis--as well as a hopeful solution--for the looming challenge that may well define the coming decades: How can we ensure broad-based prosperity in a future where labor-displacing technology becomes vastly more powerful?"―Martin Ford, NewYork Times bestselling author of Rise of the Robots
"A sobering portrait of a crumbling polity . . . [and] a provocative work of social criticism."―Kirkus Reviews
"I found [The War on Normal People] fascinating and troubling."―Major Garrett, host of CBS News' "The Takeout"
About the Author
A major documentary with an Oscar-winning director, Generation Startup, featuring Yang and Venture for America, was released in Fall 2016 and is available on Netflix and other streaming platforms. He is a graduate of Columbia Law, where he was an Editor of the Law Review, James Kent Scholar and winner of the Class of 1912 Prize, and Brown University where he graduated with degrees in Economics and Political Science.
Product details
- Publisher : Hachette Books; Reprint edition (April 2, 2019)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 304 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0316414212
- ISBN-13 : 978-0316414210
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 5.45 x 1.15 x 8.2 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #125,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #81 in Economic Policy
- #108 in Economic Policy & Development (Books)
- #475 in Political Commentary & Opinion
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Andrew Yang is an entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, non-profit leader, and former 2020 presidential candidate.
After working as a lawyer and executive at several early-stage technology companies, Andrew eventually became CEO of an education company that became #1 in the country. He then started a national entrepreneurship non-profit, Venture for America, which worked to empower thousands of young entrepreneurs to bring their dynamism to communities across the country, from New Orleans and Baltimore to Denver and Detroit.
Andrew was named a Presidential Ambassador of Entrepreneurship by the White House under the Obama administration and a Champion of Change for his work with Venture for America. Initially dubbed a "longer than long shot" candidate by the New York Times in 2018, Andrew became a top-tier contender for the presidency, raising nearly $40 million in grassroots funding.
With a vision to rewrite the rules of the United States economy through a “Freedom Dividend” of $1,000 a month for every American adult, Andrew became one of the most exciting stories in the 2020 race. Andrew's nationwide support, known as the “Yang Gang,” propelled him to seven Democratic primary debates, outlasting six senators, four governors, three members of congress, two mayors, and one secretary.
Following this unexpected run for president, Andrew formed the non-profit Humanity Forward, successfully lobbying Congress for direct cash relief for struggling American families during the pandemic while simultaneously distributing over $8 million directly to struggling families.
From his presidential and New York mayoral runs, Andrew has seen first-hand what’s preventing our country from getting things done, and he is now directing his energies towards fixing the machinery of our stagnant democracy. With FORWARD: Notes on the Future of Our Democracy, Andrew lays out the case for a variety of democracy reform measures that can unclog the pipes of our system and realign the incentives of legislators with the wellbeing of the American people.
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book very readable, articulate, and well-reasoned. They also say it's insightful, convincing, and compelling. Readers describe the book as frightening, harsh, and alarmist at times. They appreciate the clear vision and humane solution.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book very readable, well-reasoned, and articulate. They say it's a great read for anyone no matter their political affiliation. Readers also mention the author writes with both authority and heart. They describe the book as a quick read that will open their minds.
"...Overall this was good read. For real for real. Funny. Easy to read, relatable, timely and his main three policy proposals are how he ends the book...." Read more
"Great book, nicely written." Read more
"...I found this book relatively impressive and frightening...." Read more
"...Yang perfectly synthesizes together a picture of the economic realities of the 21st century, while simultaneously showing the saddening collapse of..." Read more
Customers find the book incredibly insightful, well-researched, and relevant. They say the author makes a convincing and compelling case regarding automation. Readers also appreciate the strong reality check and inspiring solutions. Additionally, they mention the statistics cited in the book are illuminating.
"...Overall this was good read. For real for real. Funny. Easy to read, relatable, timely and his main three policy proposals are how he ends the book...." Read more
"...-famous YouTube interview with Andrew Yang, and was struck by the stellar quality of Yang's answers to Rogan's often difficult questions...." Read more
"...also the Knicks. He has a deep knowledge of regional sociology. He refers a lot to his family and..." Read more
"...His arguments are clear and backed by plenty of hard evidence and observations collected from his cross-country travels and the time spent getting..." Read more
Customers find the book heart-wrenching, frightening, and alarmist. They say it's a dose of reality that paints a dark but very real future. Readers also mention the author is practical and honest about the future.
"...I found this book relatively impressive and frightening...." Read more
"...It is a heart wrenching, sometime frightening, and ultimately essential read. 5-stars." Read more
"...It's depressing and terrifying...." Read more
"...Andrew Yang answers these questions, and more. This book is both scary and inspiring. Andrew Yang writes with both authority and heart...." Read more
Customers find the book clear, comprehensive, and eye-opening. They say it offers wonderful potential and a different perspective.
"...In contrast, this book is a deep look inside the mind of a presidential candidate...." Read more
"...The perspective it gives is unbelievable. It is clear that Yang has good intentions and hopes to communicate underlying issues and inspire action...." Read more
"This book will blow your mind. Andrew Yang has produced a clear, accessbile, well-researched and thoughtful analysis of what the labor market will..." Read more
"...It demonstrates absolute clarity about the loss of jobs through automation and machine learning...." Read more
Customers find the depth of understanding and empathy Andrew shows in the book far beyond what any other author would have. They say they're emotionally touched and find the statistics fascinating. Readers also mention the book describes a systematic, holistic, sensible, and logical approach.
"...But what really shines through is his humanity, compassion, and sense of justice. The issue is not as simple as automation taking over jobs...." Read more
"...The depth of understanding and empathy Andrew shows in this book go far beyond what any politician understands. There is no comparison...." Read more
"...He is intelligent and, more importantly, compassionate. I was skeptical about UBI, universal basic income...." Read more
"...People are profoundly innovative, thoughtful, caring, and ultimately -- Human. We should not force people to do work that can be done by machines...." Read more
Customers find the author's voice genuine, frank, and sincere. They also say the book is a great listen.
"...MSNBC may not want to give him the airtime but its clear that he is sincere, educated on the root causes of current issues not just the symptoms and..." Read more
"I listened to the Audible narrated by Yang himself and his voice is very soothing and pleasant to listen to lol!..." Read more
"...I found him brilliant, informative and earnest. I highly recommend this book!" Read more
"...He write in a very personalized manner and I enjoyed his frankness. Made him feel quite human...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the humor in the book. Some mention it's funny and scary, while others say it's depressing and the stats are meaningless.
"...Overall this was good read. For real for real. Funny. Easy to read, relatable, timely and his main three policy proposals are how he ends the book...." Read more
"...The “stats” are not only meaningless, but he fills page after page with quotes from “friends in the know” as if they are hard statistics, when in..." Read more
"...It's a quick read, easy to understand and Andrew throws in a few good laughs along the way...." Read more
"...But so far the book is a downer, quite depressing...." Read more
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Top reviews from the United States
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This book takes a look into the current climate and assesses where the world is going. Yang looks to the past to see if other viable and reasonable options could be manipulated into today’s world to prevent a catastrophic meltdown of citizen and state. Arguably, the future is uncertain, but Yang says if we don’t seriously examine our current path and make drastic changes soon, then we can easily see what’s coming. He acknowledges many problems splashed throughout both government and within the home, and provided a path forward that isn’t concerned about anything other than fixing today’s problems. He proposes a universal basic income that is funded primarily through a Value-Added-Tax, which most countries have already implemented, and explains through both data and reason how and why this is the only reasonable solution. He seems to reject rapidly increasing minimum-wage, and retraining workers who will lose their jobs to automation because it’s unreasonable to expect a cashier to become a coder or engineer, or whatever job the economy currently over-values in just a few short months. This book has a few ideas that I personally found quite beautiful, but can humanity actually work together? He says yes, I’m not sold on that idea, but I am sold on Andrew Yang, and many of his ideas listed in this book and his policies on his campaign website (yang2020.com)
Overall this was good read. For real for real. Funny. Easy to read, relatable, timely and his main three policy proposals are how he ends the book. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in either, politics, economics, or even reading because it was a pleasure. 5/5
Recently I watched Joe Rogan's now-famous YouTube interview with Andrew Yang, and was struck by the stellar quality of Yang's answers to Rogan's often difficult questions. Yang consistently backed up his assertions with facts and data and generally came off as someone who really knows what he's talking about.
It turns out (to me) that Yang essentially prepared for the interview, and his presidential candidacy, by writing this book. Those who watched the interview (I recommend it as a high-quality debate/discussion about American issues, virtually unheard of today) will recognize that Yang's talking points all come from this book.
Which is fine. In fact, it's a positive sign for his candidacy. Yang is clearly not running for President just to be President. He has zeroed in on the great challenges facing America now - income inequality, increasing joblessness, the opioid epidemic, the healthcare mess - and identified real, practical solutions. Yang is running for President because he wants to get things done.
This is in line with his history as a serial entrepreneur. And while that history is a connecting thread providing the insight here, one doesn't get the sense that this book is about Yang. In other words, this doesn't feel like just another "my story" book published in advance of a presidential campaign. At its most personal, this book is about the future that Yang's children, and all American children, will inherit.
One powerful takeaway from this book is how not conventionally left/right-wing Yang is. As he says in the Rogan interview, "It's not left or right, it's forward." His idea of a Universal Basic Income may seem leftist - except that no less than Richard Nixon championed the idea in the 1970s, and Alaska, a red state, has successfully had its own version for over 40 years. Yang is also an unabashed capitalist - yet he spends a good chunk of the book talking about how capitalism needs to support the human good, not pure profit.
What this says to me as a political independent is that Yang currently seems to be the best presidential candidate, in that (a) by not positioning himself as left or right, he is better positioned to work in a bipartisan manner and break the terrible gridlock that afflicts Congress; and (b) he actually knows what he is talking about. He is not saying things to win political points - in fact, this book is almost nothing but uncomfortable facts and forecasts - and he has said that he is OK with not getting elected if his ideas get implemented by someone else.
Not adopting hard left/right stances makes Yang not conventionally attractive to the media. This book is essentially a longform journalism piece on the state of America today, the type of thoughtful, un-slanted journalism so rare today. I don't think "red" or "blue" when I read this book.
If I could, I would buy a copy of this book for every American citizen. If you have a vague feeling that America is not heading down the right path, this book illuminates that path with sober and specific detail. But this book also offers potential light at the end of the tunnel. I am not telling you to vote for Yang - heck, I may not even do so myself - but I am telling you to consider carefully what he says.
The campaign season is full of soundbites, most without substance and many just plain false. In contrast, this book is a deep look inside the mind of a presidential candidate. I doubt Yang will say much more on the campaign trail what he's said in this book - which is fine. This book already proves he has more substance than most candidates out there.
Top reviews from other countries
Many people blame the current political catastrophe in America on the malignant narcissist in the Whitehouse. They assume that he was put there by ignorant racists living in a post-fact universe. This ignores what Trump supporters actually say about why they voted that way. They have their reasons. The daily scandals surrounding POTUS are distracting us from the fact that the American economy is being hollowed out - an effect felt precisely in the "flyover states" that tipped the balance in favor of Trump.
The collapse of the American ability to find jobs for everyone is absolutely real and accelerating. Populist dictators ride the rising tide of panic felt by "normal people" as they see their hopes for the future replaced by a daily scramble to survive. Looking back to the 2016 election, we can see that Bernie Sanders had his hair on fire over pretty much the same issues that elected Trump. The media focus on Trump seduces us into thinking that all will be well if we just get rid of this one man. All would have been well if they could have just fired the captain of the Titanic.
Yang is at his best when he is showing how automation (not bad trade deals) is stripping out jobs from the American economy. He shines at simple statistical analysis and deep understanding of the nature of the actual jobs people do. Those jobs are vanishing. That's the problem. What to do?
In this book, Yang outlines the true nature of the problems facing America. One may agree with the prognosis but it's a good idea to seek a second opinion on the proposed treatment which, in this case, includes Universal Basic Income ($1,000 per month to all adult citizens) and a single-payer health care system. Yang's crisp defense of these measures is not helped by his rambling proposals to "fix" the educational system and introduce a federal time bank system and trigger a moral revival. He runs the risk of being seen as another loony utopian.
Yang seems to be innocent of political history and the blood sport of American politics. To cite one example, his equation of Marxism with socialism would be shocking to anyone but an American. "Marxism", he claims, has been tried and failed. That ignores awkward details such as the fact that Marxism has never been tried in an industrial state that is assumed by Marx. In fact, we still need to answer the question Marx raised, Who will own the means of production. To Marx, the answer was obvious: the workers. But what if there are no workers? What if there are no jobs? That is the question Yang is asking but, in brushing aside Marx, he fails to directly address the core issue. Yang is similarly gung-ho on capitalism, failing to come to grips with its current version: "finance capitalism", which he sees in terms of criminal behavior by a bunch of bankers.
Yang ignores the dynamic of American politics in assuming that all he needs to do is persuade people to do the rational thing. This is the mindset of the Democratic elite as seen by the conservative opposition. To many Americans, Yang will be seen as just another "leftie" or (God forbid) a "socialist". In fact, many of his ideas have already been adopted by the "Liberal" governments in Canada and Europe. Yang will not understand that this is not an argument in favor of these policies in the minds of many. For example "Canadian style medical care" was not a term of praise in the debate over "Obamacare". The word "LIberal" refers to the Government of Canada but, in America it is a curse to be avoided at all costs.
The ship is sinking. Fast. Do we fire the captain? Do we replace the crew? Do we hand out oars to the passengers? Outlaw Ice? Perhaps Yang has a way to get everyone into the life boats. For now, maybe that's the best we can do.
"A wave of automation and job loss is no longer a dystopian vision of the future—it’s well under way. The numbers have been telling a story for a while now that we have been ignoring. More and more people of prime working age have been dropping out of the workforce. There’s a growing mass of the permanently displaced. Automation is accelerating to a point where it will soon threaten our social fabric and way of life."
"It will happen in stages. First, there will be automated trucks with a human driver as a failsafe. The technology will allow truckers to go beyond their current 11 hours per day on the road as the driver will be able to rest and do other things during long stretches. This will increase the productivity of trucks and equipment, and likely reduce the wages of truckers as the pay scale changes. The next stage will have convoys of trucks with the lead truck having a driver and the others following automatically, which lowers wind resistance and fuel costs. There will be docking stations outside urban areas where drivers will enter the trucks for the last 10 miles.
The simple truth is: "Companies are paid to perform certain tasks, not employ lots of people. Increasingly, employing lots of people will mean that you’re behind the times."
"The test is not <Will there be new jobs we haven’t predicted yet that appear?< Of course there will be. The real test is <Will there be millions of new jobs for middle-aged people with low skills and levels of education near the places they currently reside?>"
For anyone interested in the topic at all, this is undoubtedly an essential read. For anyone who isn't interested in the topic - you should be. You will be interested in five years. Best to get a head start.








