In his latest book, The Alternative: How to Build a Just Economy, author Nick Romeo draws parallels between Leo Tolstoy’s 1886 short story How Much Land Does a Man Need? and the modern challenges of economic inequality.
Tolstoy’s timeless parable follows Pahom, a poor farmer whose insatiable greed leads to his demise, underscoring the perils of unchecked ambition. As Pahom accumulates more land, he becomes increasingly dissatisfied, ultimately succumbing to his own greed in a tragic end.
Romeo uses Tolstoy’s narrative to explore the dangers of pursuing wealth without regard for moral consequences, illustrating how this mindset contributes to modern issues such as wealth inequality and environmental degradation. The book delves into the psychological traps of acquisitive behavior and the inevitable fallout when rationality is divorced from ethical considerations.
Tolstoy’s story, Romeo argues, offers profound insights into the flaws of orthodox economic models and the human tendency to prioritize short-term gains over long-term sustainability. The Price of Greed is a compelling read for anyone interested in understanding the moral underpinnings of economic justice.
Nick Romeo is a seasoned journalist and writer who covers policy and ideas for The New Yorker and teaches at the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley. His work has appeared in a wide range of prestigious publications, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Geographic, Rolling Stone, The Atlantic, and The MIT Technology Review, among others.
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