Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
The Common Good summary
Spread the word of the good deed before it’s too late
18 mins
Brief summary
The Common Good by Robert B. Reich argues that we must prioritize the well-being of society over individual interests. It provides insight into how we can achieve a more equitable and prosperous future for all.
Topics
Table of Contents
The Common Good
Summary of 7 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 7
The common good sums up the ideals and values society needs in order to function.
On any given day in America, thousands of nurses, doctors, social workers and teachers do what they must to save lives, assist people and spread knowledge. And, to maintain the safety of the community and of the nation, there are thousands of police officers, firefighters and people in the armed forces.
What these people have in common is that they’re all contributing to the common good of society.
The common good is comprised of the values, ideals and norms shared by a society. It is what citizens expect of one another and what connects them to one another. In other words, it’s the unwritten laws of morality that we choose to live by and the ideals we hold as one community.
Explicitly, it consists of ideals like freedom, fairness, equality in the court of law, equal opportunity, respect for others and their opinions, a sense of community and trust in public institutions, such as universities and courts.
This notion of a virtuous society has its roots in the Bible and the Enlightenment.
Indeed, James Madison, the founding father and fourth US president, took direct inspiration from the philosophers of the French Enlightenment when he wrote in Federalist No. 45 that “the public good and real welfare of the great body of the people, is the supreme object to be pursued.”
The Bible also shaped the idea of the common good. America was once a country made up of many religious communities, whose devotees were pious, charitable and dedicated to the good of society.
The common good – a set of social values and ideals – took shape, in part, as a result of this dedication.
If the notion of the common good didn’t exist, we’d probably think that the police, judges, legislators and regulators were benefiting from the laws they were enforcing. And if that were the case, there would be no fairness or justice, leaving everyone to look out for themselves in a jungle where only the strongest, smartest or richest would survive.
Though a chaotic, corrupt society doesn’t sound ideal, there are some who disagree with the notion of the common good. We’ll explore their views in the next blink.
Want to see all full key ideas from The Common Good?
Key ideas in The Common Good
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The Common Good about?
The Common Good (2018) is a call for Americans to try and work toward the collective good once again, rather than continue along the path of “whatever-it-takes-to-win,” which has been the overriding mentality for the last few decades. The author outlines the importance of the common good and how we should go about restoring it.
The Common Good Review
The Common Good (2018) by Robert B. Reich is a thought-provoking read that explores the importance of the common good in our society. Here's why this book is worth your time:
- Reich presents compelling arguments about how prioritizing the common good can lead to a fairer and more prosperous society.
- The book provides a wide range of examples from history, politics, and economics to support its ideas, making it insightful and informative.
- With its practical suggestions for promoting the common good, the book empowers readers to take action and make a positive impact in their communities.
Best quote from The Common Good
The idea of the common good was once widely understood and accepted in America.
—Robert B. Reich
Who should read The Common Good?
- Americans who are concerned about the current political environment
- People who feel that Western capitalism is losing its moral compass
- Those interested in American cultural and social history
Categories with The Common Good
Book summaries like The Common Good
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
32 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
The Common Good FAQs
What is the main message of The Common Good?
The main message of The Common Good is the importance of working together for the benefit of society.
How long does it take to read The Common Good?
The reading time for The Common Good varies, but it typically takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in 15 minutes.
Is The Common Good a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Common Good is a thought-provoking book that offers insights into building a better society. It's definitely worth reading.
Who is the author of The Common Good?
The author of The Common Good is Robert B. Reich.
What to read after The Common Good?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Common Good, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Suicide of the West by Jonah Goldberg
- Saving Capitalism by Robert B. Reich
- How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes
- Uptime by Laura Mae Martin
- The Creative Act by Rick Rubin
- Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier
- The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
- Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
- Read People Like a Book by Patrick King
- Warren Buffett's Ground Rules by Jeremy C. Miller