Review
------
"If you think you've heard it all about economic inequality,
think again. Walter Scheidel's analysis of what really reduces
inequality is provocative, but he makes the case with reason,
evidence, and style."--Steven Pinker, author of The Better Angels
of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined
"Brilliant, erudite, and chock-full of historical detail, The
Great Leveler has a powerful message and asks a big question for
the twenty-first century: Can we find a cure for inequality that
isn't worse than the disease?"--Branko Milanovic, author of
Global Inequality: A New Approach for the Age of Globalization
"This is the best book on the history of income inequality. And
the central message is that most significant reductions in
inequality come through violence and destruction. Have a nice
day!"--Tyler Cowen, author of The Complacent Class: The
Self-Defeating Quest for the American Dream
"This brilliant and thoroughly researched book solves a major
paradox in the study of historical inequality. If we accept
Thomas Piketty's rule that returns on capital are greater than
the rate of economic growth, the 10,000 years of evolution since
the Neolithic period should have resulted in all wealth becoming
concentrated in the hands of a single individual or family. The
Great Leveler explains why that didn't happen. A major
breakthrough in our understanding of the historical dynamics of
income and wealth inequality."--Peter Turchin, author of
Ultrasociety: How 10,000 Years of War Made Humans the Greatest
Cooperators on Earth
"Inequality and violence are fundamental features of human
society. No one before Walter Scheidel has shown us just how
closely they have been intertwined. This is a masterful new
assessment of an age-old problem."--David Stasavage, coauthor of
Taxing the Rich: A History of Fiscal Fairness in the United
States and Europe
"The Great Leveler makes a convincing case."--Robert J. Gordon,
author of The Rise and Fall of American Growth
"This superb, and superbly written, book justifies its profound
but pessimistic conclusion that in world history inequality has
declined significantly only as a result of violent changes caused
by wars, state breakdown, or pandemics. It should have a huge
impact on world historians and generate interesting and important
debates about growing inequality in today's world."--David
Christian, author of s of Time: An Introduction to Big History
"Walter Scheidel offers a fascinating and powerful analysis of
how worldwide income and wealth inequality have evolved from the
Neolithic revolution to today. No other book on inequality has
the temporal breadth or reach of Scheidel's book. And his
interpretation is strikingly new."--Philip T. Hoffman, author of
Why Did Europe Conquer the World?
"Shortlisted for the 2017 Cundill History Prize, McGill
University"
"Shortlisted for the 2017 Financial Times and McKinsey Business
Book of the Year Award"
From the Back Cover
-------------------
"If you think you've heard it all about economic inequality,
think again. Walter Scheidel's analysis of what really reduces
inequality is provocative, but he makes the case with reason,
evidence, and style."--Steven Pinker, author of The Better Angels
of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined
"Brilliant, erudite, and chock-full of historical detail, The
Great Leveler has a powerful message and asks a big question for
the twenty-first century: Can we find a cure for inequality that
isn't worse than the disease?"--Branko Milanovic, author of
Global Inequality: A New Approach for the Age of Globalization
"This is the best book on the history of income inequality. And
the central message is that most significant reductions in
inequality come through violence and destruction. Have a nice
day!"--Tyler Cowen, author of The Complacent Class: The
Self-Defeating Quest for the American Dream
"This brilliant and thoroughly researched book solves a major
paradox in the study of historical inequality. If we accept
Thomas Piketty's rule that returns on capital are greater than
the rate of economic growth, the 10,000 years of evolution since
the Neolithic period should have resulted in all wealth becoming
concentrated in the hands of a single individual or family. The
Great Leveler explains why that didn't happen. A major
breakthrough in our understanding of the historical dynamics of
income and wealth inequality."--Peter Turchin, author of
Ultrasociety: How 10,000 Years of War Made Humans the Greatest
Cooperators on Earth
"Inequality and violence are fundamental features of human
society. No one before Walter Scheidel has shown us just how
closely they have been intertwined. This is a masterful new
assessment of an age-old problem."--David Stasavage, coauthor of
Taxing the Rich: A History of Fiscal Fairness in the United
States and Europe
"The Great Leveler makes a convincing case."--Robert J. Gordon,
author of The Rise and Fall of American Growth
"This superb, and superbly written, book justifies its profound
but pessimistic conclusion that in world history inequality has
declined significantly only as a result of violent changes caused
by wars, state breakdown, or pandemics. It should have a huge
impact on world historians and generate interesting and important
debates about growing inequality in today's world."--David
Christian, author of s of Time: An Introduction to Big History
"Walter Scheidel offers a fascinating and powerful analysis of
how worldwide income and wealth inequality have evolved from the
Neolithic revolution to today. No other book on inequality has
the temporal breadth or reach of Scheidel's book. And his
interpretation is strikingly new."--Philip T. Hoffman, author of
Why Did Europe Conquer the World?