Since retiring from parliament in 2015, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has sought to reshape his legacy, particularly within the Labour Party and the broader centre-left. Brown, once viewed as a prominent figure of the Labour right and a key architect of New Labour’s economic policies, has emphasized his achievements in reducing poverty domestically and internationally while downplaying the party’s past embrace of free markets and global capitalism.

In his latest book, *The Future Starts With Us*, Brown builds on themes from his earlier works, including *Perma-Crisis* (2023), co-authored with Mohamed El-Erian and Michael Spence. The previous book explored the lessons of the global financial crisis in relation to current overlapping crises, such as the erosion of the postwar international order, rising populism, social fragmentation, and the decline of civic institutions like youth clubs and places of worship. *The Future Starts With Us* adds to this discourse through extensive polling data, drawn from nearly 100,000 respondents across 45 countries in both the Global North and South, which Brown uses to argue that face-to-face engagement and communal interaction can help counteract prejudice and populist sentiments.

While parts of Brown’s argument are supported by compelling data, critics have found aspects of the book less convincing. Notably, Brown’s chapter on rebuilding the international system critiques the shift from US multilateralism in a unipolar world to unilateral actions in a multipolar environment. However, his proposals for alternative global structures are seen as inadequate, with many observers suggesting that meaningful progress depends on the United States and China recommitting to multilateralism and a rules-based order.

A further point of contention lies in Brown’s treatment of his own previous economic stance. Although he acknowledges that dissatisfaction with the current moment stems partly from “neoliberalist” policies pursued over the past several decades, the book offers little insight into when or how Brown’s views evolved from his years as chancellor and prime minister. This omission has been highlighted in contrast to figures like Andy Burnham, a younger New Labour politician, who has openly discussed his rejection of neoliberalism along with the reasons and timing of his shift.

For some, this lack of a clearer reckoning with his economic legacy leaves open questions about how Brown’s new ideas could be financed or implemented in a rapidly changing world. Labour, critics argue, often expresses opposition to prevailing economic orthodoxies without articulating a coherent alternative, and a more transparent explanation from Brown on these matters might provide clarity.

Brown’s post-premiership focus on poverty reduction has been effective in reinforcing his stature within the Labour Party. However, the decision to sideline other aspects of his political record—particularly those related to market-oriented policies—means that *The Future Starts With Us* provokes both fascination and frustration among readers seeking a comprehensive assessment of his legacy and future vision.