Utopia for Realists

We live in a time of unprecedented upheaval, with questions about the future, society, work, happiness, family and money, and yet no political party of the right or left is providing us with answers. Rutger Bregman, a bestselling Dutch historian, explains that it needn't be this way.

Bregman shows that we can construct a society with visionary ideas that are, in fact, wholly implementable. Every milestone of civilization – from the end of slavery to the beginning of democracy – was once considered a utopian fantasy. New utopian ideas such as universal basic income and a 15-hour work week can become reality in our lifetime.

This guide to a revolutionary yet achievable utopia is supported by multiple studies, lively anecdotes and numerous success stories. From a Canadian city that once completely eradicated poverty, to Richard Nixon's near implementation of a basic income for millions of Americans, Bregman takes us on a journey through history, beyond the traditional left-right divides, as he introduces ideas whose time has come.

About the Author

Rutger Bregman is one of Europe's most prominent young thinkers and has published four books on history, philosophy and economics. His History of Progress was awarded the Belgian Liberales prize for best non-fiction book of 2013 and he has twice been nominated for the prestigious European Press Prize at The Correspondent.

The Dutch edition of Utopia for Realists became a national bestseller and sparked a basic income movement that soon made international headlines. He has contributed to the Washington Post, the Guardian and the BBC. In 2016 he gave a Tedx Talk which he will follow up on with a Ted Talk in 2017.