Vermont author Chuck Collins will discuss his 2025 book, Burned by Billionaires: How Concentrated Wealth and Power Ruin our Lives and Planet and his decades of experiences working with issues of equity, equality, economics, and community.

The U.S. and planet are living through a surge of wealth inequality. What does this mean for our daily lives –and the fate of the planet? What does extreme wealth inequality mean for our taxes, housing, political voice, health, and well-being? How can we reverse extreme inequality?

Author Chuck Collins is a resident of Guilford, Vermont and a campaigner, researcher, and storyteller based at the Institute for Policy Studies where he co-edits the website, Inequality.org. He is the author of ten books including his newest book, Burned by Billionaires: How Concentrated Wealth and Power are Ruining Our Lives and Planet (The New Press, October 2025). He is author of The Wealth Hoarders: How Billionaires Pay Millions to Hide Trillions, Born on Third Base, and, with Bill Gates Sr. of Wealth and Our Commonwealth.