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Against the Rules · July 7, 2020 · 38m

The Unfair Coach

Lewis examines how the coaching boom creates inequality: wealthy families hire college admissions coaches, executive coaches, and performance coaches, giving their children advantages that compound over generations.

Highlights

Coaching is the mechanism by which privilege compounds across generations
Lewis: wealthy families don't just pass down money — they pass down access to coaching, mentorship, and human capital development that multiplies the financial advantage.
Meritocracy requires equal access to development — without it, merit reflects privilege, not talent
Lewis challenges the meritocratic ideal: if coaching dramatically improves performance, and coaching access is determined by wealth, then 'merit' is partly a function of family income rather than individual talent.