The world-famous political philosopher reveals the driving force behind the resurgence of populism: the tyranny of the meritocracy and the resentments it produces. Our politics are fraught with rancor and resentment. Decades of rising inequality and stalled mobility have fueled a populist revolt against elites. But while the pundits focus on wages and jobs, they are missing a big part of the story: social esteem, and the broader moral dimensions of our current crisis. A searing critique of contemporary public discourse.