Author Talk: Chuck Collins on "Burned By Billionaires"

Join Toadstool Bookshop at 11 am on Saturday March 7 for an author talk with Chuck Collins about his new book: "Burned By Billionaires: How Concentrated Wealth and Power are Ruining Our Lives and Planet" In Burned by Billionaires, Chuck Collins (author and senior scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington D.C.) chronicles how the actions of the top .01% have severe consequences for the rest of us, especially those of marginalized identities. Collins takes down the "myth of meritocracy," unraveling how the rich rig the game in their favor, resulting in a concentration of wealth in the hands of a tiny (but growing) class of billionaires--leading to both intense income and political polarization. In a wholly original argument, Collins charts this economic, social, and ecological destruction and shows how these effects manifest in every facet of our society, including: Increasing the tax burden on ordinary working people Reducing public funding for schools, roads, and other essential infrastructure Shrinking the pool of affordable housing, especially in poor and urban areas Accelerating climate change and dictating what ends up on our dinner plate Shaping the news we consume and fueling the spread of misinformation Collins argues that perhaps, worst of all, the concentration of wealth and power is leading to political hijacking, undermining the democratic principle that our votes matter equally. Full of engrossing charts, graphs, political cartoons, and more, this book is an urgent call-to-action and road map to a more equitable society, where everyone has access to the resources that will allow them to thrive--and one where it is no longer commonplace to live in a constant state of uncertainty, fear, and anxiety Burned by Billionaires offers a pointed prescription for taking power back from the billionaire class and achieving the shared prosperity that comes from a healthy and equal society. Chuck Collins is a campaigner and storyteller who has worked for decades on environmental and economic justice campaigns. He is the Director of the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Studies where he co-edits Inequality.org. He is cofounder of DivestInvest.org, a global movement to divest from fossil fuels and invest in climate solutions; and trustee of the Post-Carbon Institute and Resilience.org. His 2021 book, "The Wealth Hoarders: How Billionaires Pay Millions to Hide Trillions" (Polity), is about the wealth hiding industry. He is the author of the popular book, "Born on Third Base: A One Percenter Makes the Case for Tackling Inequality, Bringing Wealth Home, and Committing to the Common Good" (Chelsea Green) and, with Bill Gates Sr., "Wealth and Our Commonwealth" (Beacon Press), a case for taxing inherited fortunes. He was featured in Sun Magazine and Fresh Air with Terry Gross. Collins is an expert on U.S. inequality, community resilience, and the racial wealth divide. His is the author of numerous reports and several other books, including "Is Inequality in America Irreversible?" with Mary Wright, "of The Moral Measure of the Economy", a book about Christian ethics and economic life. He is a founding board member of the Patriotic Millionaires. He lives with his family in Southern Vermont. Join us to meet Chuck and learn more about Burned by Billionaires!