What Money Can't Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets

The book has a good flow and deals with the overt commodification or commercialisation of aspects of life and the world wherein markets should not be morally present. The author - Michael Sandel, makes compelling arguments to make his case. You could agree or not agree with the author’s POV but one thing is certain that the points raised are certainly going top provoke deep thought on the moral dilemma discussed. Informative as well since so many aspects that have been commercialised and we as a society at large had no idea. The book concludes with needs for limits on market capitalism and argues some areas of one’s life are too sacred to be commercialised. On that I believe, we could all agree!. An engaging read that you are sure to enjoy.

Well, Mr Michael Sandel in his own characteristic style has continued to make us think on issues which directly affects us in one way or the other. Moreover, he is trying to draw line where money stops working. After "Justice-What's right thing to do" this is my second book and I am thrilled to read it. This is just unputdownable once you start it. He coerce you to take sides. He then convinces us with which is the right way and why. I would recommend it to anyone who loves to read about contemporary issues linked with philosophical aspects and principles. Thanks amazon for delivering me this volume in short time.

Must read to understand the existing confilcts betweeen morality and markets. And also how in past the market, in almost all the cases, has been able to modify the morals to its own will. The Author sites all the possible examples to make home the point that eventhough most economists consider good unaffected by the markets, but in reality the market corrupt the goods and the values to make its way in hetherto unpaved areas. And a debate is necessary to what extent we are willing to give way to market to modify the morals. As always Micheal Sandale will not disappoint you. Best book which exploree this conflict. Just go for it. You will know that Micheal Sandale is famous for all the right reasons. Truely "A Rockstar" in Western Philosophy.

Perfect book how market forces dehumanization society and can we limit them

Not in the lines of "Justice" by the same author. Don't read it as a sequel to "Justice", rather read for a fun. The best part of this book by the Harvard professor is that the purchaser won't be as lucky and happy as was in the case when "Justice" came in hand and hence one comes to know "What money can't buy."

Prof. Sandel offers us a glimpse to the extent of influence of markets exert on our social norms and we cone across some truly unsettling sights: wombs on rent, homeless people standing in line for congressional hearing to reserve place for lobbyists. In his understated and civil manner he brings forth the dilemmas that our society faces. To me it is a clarion call to mend our ways. Although the book wood have been a lot richer if he gave us a glipmse of solutions: what shoukd the socisl norms be to undo the ever increasing influence of market. Overall a good, though provoking book. Highly recommended. However the titke should have been "What money shouldn't buy"

A great book from a great philosopher...a great teacher...and a great human being....:)

Very good experience!

El autor tiene la facilidad de tomar temas profundos y explicarlos de una forma clara y amena. Recomendable para quien le guste el enfoque de profundidad en este tema.

Ainda não cheguei à metade do livro, mas estou gostando pelas situações que o autor coloca sobre as várias maneiras de dinheiro atrair dinheiro, com ou sem preocupação com a ética. Nós hoje vivemos no mundo da concorrência e a visão dada no livro é muito boa.

The author, Michael Sandel, has taught and written about values and moral principles throughout his Harvard career. This book covers some subjects (e.g life insurance, health care) where market efficiency may conflict with societal values in some circumstances, which the author explores. One example: The author asks if paying kids for reading books may not induce the wrong attitude towards reading (linking book reading to a market transaction, as opposed to a way to knowledge). The book is more an exploration of various questions involving market mechanisms and societal values, rather than a formal theory of the potential flaws of a market approach.

1. This book is great and excellent, because it makes us to consider fundamentally how we should maintain the harmony between Ethics and Economy. 2. The following facts described in this book as examples are beyond our human moral limits, judging from the ethical point of view. １） The services of an Indian surrogate mother to carry a pregnancy: USD 6,250.00 ２） The right to shoot an endangered black rhino: USD 150,000.00 ３） The cell phone number of your doctor: USD 1,500.00 and up per year ４） Admission of your child to a prestigious university ５） Buy the life insurance policy of an ailing or elderly person, pay the annual premiums while the person is alive, and then collect the death benefit when he or she dies: potentially, millions(depending on the policy) 3. The theory of “economic approach to life” where all the behaviors of the human beings can be analyzed and interpreted by economics on the premise of the market-economy or the market society ,accepts and supports the above mentioned facts, even if unintentionally. 4. The author’s posture against them is right and understandable. Because, the old saying “Economy without Ethics is a vice, and Ethics without Economy is a dream” which was made through the long history and the various experiences of the human beings, is to the point. Furthermore, based on this, we can also say “The management and the conduct without Ethics is a vice and Ethics without the management and the conduct is a dream.” 5. Mr. Eiichi Shibusawa, the father of the modern Japanese economy, sought to maintain the harmony between Ethics and Economy, as a way of fostering business and paving the way for national prosperity. According to his biography and his books, in case of facing the difficulty to maintain the harmony between Ethics and Economy, what he did at that time seems to put the priority on Ethics, based on “The Analects of Confucius” and the theory of “Ethics the first, Profit the second”,. 6. The money(=currency),through which the profit is recognized, is an invention(=a kind of tool) made by our ancestors with wisdom in order to overcome the inconvenience to barter one thing for another, long time ago. Therefore, Ethics is more important than Profit. So, “Ethics the first, Profit the second” theory is understandable, also from this point of view. 7. The sub-prime loan, and the CDS(=Credit Default Swap) problems which gave a severe earthquake to the international financial markets ,have the similar elements of the above mentioned facts. 8. Particularly, CDS(=Credit Default Swap) which was developed for the purpose of transferring the credit risk in a simple and convenient way in the markets, has another function as a life insurance of the said company or other legal-entities. Some buyer of the protection of CDS, may welcome the bankruptcy of the said insured entity, and may not hesitate to cut off the circulative flow of the social credit worthiness, seeking for their own profits. Therefore, regarding the CDS, the following three points should be strictly reviewed and examined. 1) The object entity whose CDS is transacted in the market 2) Its written acceptance on CDS 3) The qualification of the participants to CDS markets 9. There is a saying, “A man who has a long-range view becomes rich, and a man who has a near-sighted tendency becomes poor.” Recently, people have been inclined to lead a near-sighted life, to lose the initiative against the money(=currency) which our ancestors made as a tool, and are losing their Ethics ,little by little. We should re-construct Ethics, getting away from Money-aholic, taking back the initiative, and remaking the human relations with the family, the friends, and the community, one by one, in patience.

Lettura davvero molto interessante, che aiuta a non banalizzare la questione dell'opportunità di creare alcuni mercati e ricorda semplicemente quali sono le conseguenze. In particolare ho apprezzato la leggerezza con la quale Sandel affronta la questione: non fa il filosofo moralizzatore, offre una serie concreta di esempi e ricorda solo di soffermarsi un attimo sulle considerazioni etiche, senza paura di non allinearsi ai 'liberisti a tutti i costi' o ai 'markettari'. In questi giorni, una delle mie tre splendide figlie, la grande, ha iniziato a studiare economia all'università. Nelle prime due lezioni hanno affrontato il concetto di 'beni' e 'bisogni', concetti che ha trovato abbastanza banali... "sono cose che tanto non chiederenno all'esame". Le ho comprato questo libro, in edizione cartacea, per farle capire quanto invece serva non banalizzare questi due concetti! Speriamo lo legga!