Everyone seems to think it obvious that equality of opportunity is at least part of what constitutes a fair society. At the same time, they are so vague about what equality of opportunity actually amounts to that it can begin to look like an empty term. This work suggests that the way we think about equality and opportunity should be changed. The book fully lives up to its provocative title. In the horse-trading of meritocracy versus equality, few have had the nerve and imagination to throw out both these ideals at once.