Give People Money: How Universal Basic Income Could Change the Future–For the Rich, the Poor, and Everyone in Between

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Review:

This book is about a radical concept made simple. Give People Money discusses a Universal Basic Income (UBI), or a guaranteed amount of money provided by the government to each citizen. UBI is not a new concept, but it is one that is becoming more popular. In response to the impending job loss from automation, it’s being heralded as a way to keep America’s economy strong while supporting its citizens. Lowrey has taken on a comprehensive examination of UBI, including looking at implementation of UBI trials in Kenya, Germany, and Finland as well as examining what it would mean to implement UBI in the United States.

UBI has historically been supported by people from a variety of political parties, including Republican Richard Nixon, Libertarian Charles Murray, and Marxist Socialist Erik Olin Wright. Andrew Yang, a Democratic candidate for the 2020 presidency, is currently running on a platform based on UBI. And a recent study demonstrated that approximately 48% of Americans are in favor of implementing UBI. Give People Money explains the concept of UBI in a way that is accessible to the lay person while remaining grounded in research.

Favorite Passage:

A UBI, I thought, was not so much about welfare as inclusion. Universal cash programs were a way of providing the poor with an opportunity to participate in the economy. Universal cash programs were a way of ensuring that all members of the society had a foundation to build on. 
— Chapter 9

What I Loved Most:

I’m not a proponent of implementing UBI in America. While it sounds great to have everyone receive $1,000 a month, with no obligations or requirements, I simply don’t think it is a feasible program to fund. Give People Money does suggest several options for funding UBI, such as increased income, corporate, and consumption taxes, as well as funds from shared national resources. In addition, a UBI would allow many of our current social welfare programs (TANF/Food Stamps, Medicaid, Housing Assistance, etc.) to be stopped completely. The money currently used for these programs could be redirected to fund UBI. However, Lowrey admits that UBI would likely increase the deficit; in fact, she advocates for starting the program and letting the funding fall into place eventually. Seeing as there is no feasible way that I can find to fund this program, I simply don’t think the UBI would work.

With all of that being said, I think it is SO important to be informed on political issues. And if I don’t agree with something, I want to have solid reasoning as to why I don’t agree with it. I like reading books that challenge me to consider how I’ve come to the conclusions I have. I ended Give People Money with the same opinion about UBI as I had at the beginning of reading it, but with more knowledge as to the proposed benefits and negatives of the policy. Especially since I think UBI is likely to continue gaining supporters, I am glad that I understand more about the policy.

Read this book if you like:

Politics, economics, considering what social programs are best for our country

Book Details:

The First True Thing

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Review:

Marcelle’s best friend, Hannah, asked Marcelle to cover for her. The next day, Hannah is missing, and Marcelle doesn’t know what to do.

Marcelle has been sober for just a couple of weeks, after drunkenly crashing her bike, ending up in the hospital, and being mandated to attend treatment at the Center. As part of her recovery process, she promised her parents she wouldn’t lie to them anymore – so now she feels like she can’t come clean about Hannah’s text that night. But the longer she goes without hearing from Hannah, the harder it’s getting to maintain the delicately balanced statements she made.

The First True Thing is told partially as a narrative of current events, and partially in flashbacks of Marcelle’s drinking days. This is a really heavy book, dealing with serious issues like drug and alcohol addiction, sexual exploitation, and death. It’s definitely not for younger teens, but it tells an important story. People who are in recovery might find some of the scenes triggering, so read with caution. I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book from the publisher, HarperTeen. It will officially be released one week from today – look for it on April 23!

Favorite Passage:

More than anything, I wish Hannah and I both could go back in time. But I know it’s useless to think this way. I am the girl who crashed on the Death Wish path. I can’t be any other girl.
— Chapter Fifteen

What I Loved Most:

Needell’s portrayal of addiction and recovery is raw and real. She doesn’t shy away from addressing how addiction can comprise someone’s identity, and how stopping addictive behavior often means removing the major thing that you identify yourself with. I am of the opinion that getting sober is one of the bravest things you can do. We’re starting to see more books being published for teens that address mental health issues like addiction, which I feel is crucial for helping teens identify these issues in their own lives or the lives of those around them.

Read this book if you like:

Suspense, identity searching, gut-wrenching honesty

Book Details:

Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants

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Review:

Ada Twist has so many questions. Why does her mom’s coffee smell stronger than her dad’s coffee? How many birds live in her backyard, and what kind of birds are they? And most urgently, how is she going to rescue her friend’s uncle, who is floating away due to his helium-filled pants?

Ada is a scientist, and there is so much she wants to learn. She is constantly doing experiments to figure out how the world around her works. STEM is all the rage right now, and it’s never too early to expose your kids to these concepts! For those who aren’t familiar, STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. There’s a movement to begin educating children in these areas from a young age, as major job growth is expected in these industries in the future. By teaching children to value and utilize STEM skills from the time they’re little, we are preparing them for success in later job searches. Ada uses her scientific knowledge to get Uncle Ned back on the ground, but she does it in a way that teaches the STEM information on the down-low. Kids won’t even realize they are learning when they read this book.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from the publisher, Amulet Books. It will be published next week – April 16, 2019! This is the second book in the Questioners series, but you can read it as a stand-alone book. I had never read the first book (Rosie Revere and the Raucous Riveters), but I’ll definitely be finding a copy of it and looking forward to future titles in this series!

Favorite Passage:

She shook her head to try to think. She tapped her chin again and scribbled notes. The hum of the crowd faded. There were so many questions to answer. So much to figure out. To Ada, the whole world felt like a big cartoon bubble filled with question marks. 
– Chapter 11

What I Loved Most:

There are a few points in the book where Ada is trying to explain information to someone, but she is too worked up for her words to come out the way that she wants them too. We see her getting frustrated when she can’t communicate well, and then see her try some different techniques to communicate better. In addition to all of the great STEM information in Ada Twist and the Perilous Pants, kids may learn a few new tips for how to get their feelings and ideas across.

Read this book if you like:

Smart kids, jokes about smelly feet, chapter books, empowering children to use science in their everyday lives

Book Details: