Buy new:
$34.98
FREE delivery Sunday, May 12 on your first order
Ships from: Amazon.ca
Sold by: Amazon.ca
$34.98
FREE delivery Sunday, May 12 on your first order. Details
Or fastest delivery Thursday, May 9. Order within 8 hrs 48 mins. Details
Only 1 left in stock (more on the way).
$$34.98 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$34.98
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Ships from
Amazon.ca
Ships from
Amazon.ca
Sold by
Amazon.ca
Sold by
Amazon.ca
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
$14.55
May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less See less
FREE delivery May 22 - June 3. Details
Usually ships within 3 to 4 days
$$34.98 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$34.98
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from USA and sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas US.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera, scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle app

Follow the author

Andrew Yang
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The War on Normal People: The Truth About America's Disappearing Jobs and Why Universal Basic Income Is Our Future Hardcover – April 3 2018

by Andrew Yang (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,871 ratings
See all formats and editions
Great on Kindle
Great Experience. Great Value.
iphone with kindle app
Putting our best book forward
Each Great on Kindle book offers a great reading experience, at a better value than print to keep your wallet happy.

Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.

View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.

Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.

Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Get the free Kindle app: Link to the kindle app page Link to the kindle app page
Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.
View Kindle Edition
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$34.98","priceAmount":34.98,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"34","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"98","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"a%2Fj70w0Gctaeg6dxaf9UD2htiQ0v30ONcdcN%2FznqLeEJd0P9N1AXbFzRW5bjb94feLxUhFgCvPVOFUSPaPftEVwPXAEKbyvORnDYm98TchYNR2T7shMgorgLFAi34k44Khfa%2FCv45S4%3D","locale":"en-CA","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$14.55","priceAmount":14.55,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"14","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"55","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"a%2Fj70w0Gctaeg6dxaf9UD2htiQ0v30ONVEmNJi7OVMTjiFlStlpRqMlB0g5ETl6jOaCKZ1%2BaRbT3x15yNoG%2Bp6R8s6UfaE2vc8vvNr9smqFBoGY1N3ZStYQdfOIcDMcTStQnBis1DQMFSeUZafIyGmsLKlXliv0WOa61wMO97AVbe%2FSnNfFQkA%3D%3D","locale":"en-CA","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons


***New York Times Bestseller***





From 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, a captivating account of how "a skinny Asian kid from upstate" became a successful entrepreneur, only to find a new mission: calling attention to the urgent steps America must take, including Universal Basic Income, to stabilize our economy amid rapid technological change and automation.

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."
Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    304 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Hachette Books
  4. Publication date
    April 3 2018
  5. Dimensions
    15.88 x 2.54 x 23.5 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0316414247
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0316414241
  8. See all details
Next page

Frequently bought together

The War on Normal People: The Truth About America's Disappearing Jobs and Why Universal Basic Income Is Our Future
$34.98
Only 1 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca.
+
Forward: Notes on the Future of Our Democracy
$33.17
Get it by Sunday, May 12
Only 1 left in stock.
Sold by H.O.N.E.Y and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
+
Smart People Should Build Things: How to Restore Our Culture of Achievement, Build a Path for Entrepreneurs, and Create New J
$24.46
Only 2 left in stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Product description

Review

"Andrew Yang is one of those rare visionaries who puts dreams into action. The War on Normal People is both a clear-eyed look at the depths of our social and economic problems and an innovative roadmap toward a better future."―Arianna Huffington,Founder and CEO of Thrive Global

"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

Andrew Yang is the founder of Venture for America, a major non-profit that places top college graduates in start-ups for two years in emerging U.S. cities to generate job growth and train the next generation of entrepreneurs. Yang has been the CEO, co-founder or executive at a number of technology and education companies. Yang was named a Presidential Ambassador of Global Entrepreneurship and a Champion of Change by the White House and one of Fast Company's "100 Most Creative People in Business." He was also named to the National Advisory Council for Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the Department of Commerce.

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; 1st edition (April 3 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0316414247
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316414241
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 499 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.88 x 2.54 x 23.5 cm
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 2,871 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Andrew Yang

Andrew Yang

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

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

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
2,871 global ratings

Top reviews from Canada

Chillyfinger
5.0 out of 5 stars ... even more disturbing portrait of what America will look like in 10 years
Reviewed in Canada on June 23, 2018
Verified Purchase
This is a disturbing portrait of America as it is in 2018 and an even more disturbing portrait of what America will look like in 10 years.

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.
10 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Garry McCallum
5.0 out of 5 stars Canadians - Universal Basic Income not just an American election issue
Reviewed in Canada on July 28, 2019
Verified Purchase
Canadians - This book is not just an American election issue. It is a Canadian one too. The debate over implementing a Canadian Universal Basic Income is stalled by Canadian politicians being afraid of drawing fire from American corporations launching legal attacks under our "Free Trade" agreements with the U.S. Government. We will never get a much needed Canadian UBI without something similar happening in the States.

Yang's rational arguments for replacing a confusing and ineffective social support system with a simplified and more effective UBI not only applies to Canada but we have little hope of electing politicians brave enough to go it alone without a UBI at least getting some political traction in the US.

This book is a good read prior to the Canadian election as it discusses a potential point of conflict during trade negotiations. Do we want to trade our social support system in trade negotiations dominated by the interests of giant American corporations? Should we assume that US politics will swing back from it's current social extremes or do we need to elect a government willing to take bold measures in Canada for the benefit of Canadians without consideration of US political extremes.

This book gives some insight into the American problems that will inevitably have an impact on Canada. I recommend it to all Canadians who intend to vote in the next election.
19 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Daniel James
5.0 out of 5 stars This book will change the way you see everything from politics to money, work, and business
Reviewed in Canada on August 2, 2019
Verified Purchase
Andrew Yang deeply understands the incredibly bleak future for normal people that our economy is driving us toward, and explains it in a clear and entertaining way. By the end of this book, you will have a hard time disagreeing with the bleak picture he paints for average people, or the solutions he proposes on how we can make that picture better. It's all based on factual data, and he's seen it all happen up close.

When I first heard about Andrew Yang, I dismissed him as a fringe candidate who was a little bit crazy. The more I learned about him and the more I listened to what he was saying, the more convinced I became that the vision of the future he was presenting was the most optimistic, logical, and inspiring of any I had heard.

I've never had someone running for office make me feel more optimistic about the future than Mr. Yang. I'm confident that even if he doesn't win in 2020, he will successfully make the 4th Industrial Revolution part of the mainstream conversation, and force us to think about how we can build an economy that actually works for normal people.
5 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Jasmine-Lee T.
4.0 out of 5 stars Everyone should read this book to prepare for our possible future
Reviewed in Canada on November 5, 2020
Verified Purchase
It’s a lot of statistics, not a bedtime storybook read. However full of interesting facts and stats and a must read for anyone who likes to prepare for the future unfolding
Helpful
 Report
Katamari
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read in seeing what the future holds
Reviewed in Canada on June 26, 2021
Verified Purchase
Not going to lie, when I first heard about UBI I scoffed. Saw him on Joe Rogan and just listened to his thought process and approach with an open mind. Turns out this man has some really solid ideas on how to solve important issues that both the US and Canada (and the rest of the world) are going to face.

While he didn't succeed in the presidential or NYC mayoral race, it's good to know there are still people with rational thinking attempting to make a difference. The book gives the reader a glimpse on what the future holds and what we need to do to mitigate the damages. Sadly, he may be too far ahead for most people to grasp but eventually everything catches up.
Helpful
 Report
weirdprofilename
5.0 out of 5 stars This man should be the current POTUS
Reviewed in Canada on May 18, 2021
Verified Purchase
Interesting read. A bit of gloom at the start, and it gets to the good stuff in time.

The ideas in the book could help change society as we know it - and for the better, too.

Sadly, the Dems wanted Joe. I hope he tries again, as the U.S. could benefit from leader who truly wants to make a difference.
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Gianluca
4.0 out of 5 stars A good read
Reviewed in Italy on January 8, 2021
Verified Purchase
I don't agree with him at all on the solutions, but the problems are real and people are tired of the "always talking, never acting" politics and politician. We need something new more than ever before. We need drastic action in favour of the normal people. The book is good
Report
Nathan
5.0 out of 5 stars “Not left, not right, forward”
Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2019
Verified Purchase
Is it possible to be a quixotic realist? If so, Andrew Yang is the guy. He calls a thing what it actually is; meaning, he sees where the United States is heading in its current trajectory, and due to automatic and A.I. its not a bright future. This for sure makes him a realist. However, Andrew Yang, who’s currently a presidential candidate, seems to believe strongly in a high anthropology, or at least a potential one given the proper circumstances, making him overly idealistic in my eyes. Maybe he believes just enough in humanity that with a little push the economy can become sustainable, and today’s generations can build a better world for the next.
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
7 people found this helpful
 Report
Peter Monien
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book from a presidential candidate about the true options of our future
Reviewed in Germany on September 7, 2019
Verified Purchase
Politics seems to repeat, every time it is just another flavor. And it doesn't get much better. No visions, just "keep on going". Andrew Yang is different. He is facing the big struggles of our time and has answers:

"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?>"
3 people found this helpful
 Report
JT
5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and brilliantly written.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 27, 2018
Verified Purchase
Yang has produced a brilliant analysis of the situation that the developed world is facing; that automation is not only going to cause massive job losses, but that it has already started - a process which he has termed the 'Great Displacement'. In summary, hardly anyone is safe - but society has the option to ensure that almost everyone comes out of this much better off. I'm impressed by his proposals for adjusting society to the coming reality - and as such I'm glad to read that he is running for the Democratic nomination for President in 2020. Hopefully, some of his insight and ideas will reach the political leaders of the UK sooner rather than later.

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.
13 people found this helpful
 Report
Sam Currie
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in Australia on January 30, 2020
Verified Purchase
Very interesting read on UBI (universal basic income) and how it could offset the expected job losses we’re expected to see in the coming years due to technology advances and automation.
One person found this helpful
 Report