Born on Third Base

Chuck Collins is not your typical trust fund kid. I’m sure his parents didn’t think he would give away half a million dollars at age 26 or that he would work at some of the jobs he has. I really appreciate his inquisitive nature and his authentic take on his position in society as a “one percenter.” I think it’s easy for people like him to pat themselves on the back for trying to see how the rest of the world lives, but what I like most about Collins is how he acknowledges that no matter what he does to live more like the average person – get jobs on his own, pay rent every month, etc. – he still has the privilege and safety net of wealth and opportunity if he wants it, which makes the stakes of whatever he does vastly different than those of your average person.

I think it’s bold of Collins to write a book about the one percent making change from the perspective of a one percenter because one percenters are not always looked upon favorably. But I liked how Collins and George Pillsbury approached the one percenter guilt they have: they can either live with paralyzing guilt or empathetic guilt. Empathetic guilt seems to be a theme in Collins’ life, for he looks at what wealth he has and uses it to create change rather than simply accepting his place in society and not doing anything to change the way society is structured.