The Dispossessed

Ursula Le Guin

Why I looked at this book

Lots of people think that our economy is too oriented towards making money, and that we might be happier if money were less important in our society, or maybe if we did away with it altogether. But does such an idea really have any possibility of working? I'm hoping that this book might tell a story of how such a society might work.

First impressions

The book starts with Shevek leaving his homeworld Annares, where there is no money and no power structure, to travel to Urras, which looks much like Western economies today. It's well written, a lesser writer might make Shevek envious of the richer Urrasti, but Le Guin highlights his bafflement at the way the society works. It certainly looks like it will be a stimulating read.