Book Review: What Money Can’t Buy by Michael Sandel — A Moral Wake-Up Call in a Market-Obsessed World
In What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets, renowned political philosopher Michael J. Sandel delivers a timely and thought-provoking critique of modern capitalism. With clarity and moral force, Sandel questions the growing tendency to let market values define every sphere of life—from education and healthcare to politics, military service, and even human relationships.
At the heart of the book is a powerful question: “Are there things money shouldn’t buy?” Sandel argues that the reach of market reasoning has expanded too far, crowding out civic virtues and degrading public goods. In an era where everything has a price tag—naming rights in public institutions, fast-track services, and even life insurance on strangers—Sandel urges society to reconsider where markets belong and where they don’t.
Drawing on real-world examples like queue jumping, carbon trading, organ sales, and advertising in schools, the book illustrates how the logic of buying and selling can distort values like fairness, community, and human dignity. He also introduces the idea of “crowding out,” where financial incentives replace moral ones, leading to a loss of intrinsic motivation and civic duty.
Sandel doesn’t offer rigid policy prescriptions; rather, he calls for public discourse grounded in moral reasoning, not just economic efficiency. He believes that engaging with questions of value, virtue, and justice is essential to rebuilding a shared civic life in an increasingly commodified world.
Verdict: What Money Can’t Buy is a deeply engaging and morally urgent book that challenges readers to rethink their assumptions about markets and values. It's a must-read for anyone concerned about the future of democracy, inequality, and what it means to live a good life in a market-driven society.
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
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An extended and more detained version the review is available here