Access

Spring Books

Nature 458, 1109-1110 (30 April 2009) | doi:10.1038/4581109a; Published online 29 April 2009

Open Innovation Challenges

naturejobs

Why inequality is fatal

Michael Sargent1

BOOK REVIEWEDThe Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better

by Richard Wilkinson & Kate Pickett

Allen Lane: 2009. 320 pp. £20

Why are our chances of reaching a great age so affected by wealth and status? The obvious answer is that more income buys better health.