The Spirit Level provoked passionate discussion when it was first released in 2009. Many commentators, primarily those on the political left, embraced the book’s message and were keen to endorse Pickett and Wilkinson’s argument that governments should work towards reducing income inequality. In his review of the book, author Johann Hari calls The Spirit Level “A compass to rebuild our societies…a shining vision” (“Testimonials.” Equality Trust). Journalist Collette Douglas Home agreed that the book affirmed how inequality causes social harm, writing, “Graph after graph demonstrates cause and dire effect” (“Testimonials”).

This work also received critical acclaim from various associations and newspapers. The Guardian, a left-leaning British newspaper, named it one of the top 100 books of the century. The New Statesman, which describes itself as “the leading progressive political and cultural magazine in the United Kingdom,” also praised The Spirit Level, naming it one of the top 10 books of the decade (“About the New Statesman.” The New Statesman). This book was awarded the Title Publication of the Year by the Political Studies Association, a British organization that studies political processes and their consequences.