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81st out of 96 books
—
20 voters
The Status Seekers
Published
(first published 1959)
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This volume is Packard's follow-up to The Hidden Persuaders. In it he posits that despite our fond belief in America being a democratic society, we are in fact not classless. According to his studies of sociology and observations based on his travels and interviews, he outlines a "system of horizontal social strata" consisting of five divisions. In addition he presents a vertical system of cross-strata based on differentness, such as racial (Blacks, immigrants) and religious (Jews.) In other wor...more
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This is less engaging than his other works and has remained more dated. It is as little ponderous at times and the author's ability to predict future trends is less accurate. There is much more attention paid to church and religion than is warranted and hardly any to issues of race. He didn't anticipate gender politics at all. However, for some of the core issues it is still useful reading.
Sociologist's research and interpretation of current trends toward social classes in the U.S.
I enjoyed the book.
I enjoyed the book.
Dated, as other people have written, but insightful analysis of American class stratification from decades past.
dated
Half quaint, half revealing.
The author's tone in this book was, er, distinctive. I wonder if this is what 'academic' literature sounded like in the first half of the 20th century, or, if it was a put-on, a fake to appear 'intellectual', and therefore authoritative, to a mass market audience.
Some of the predictions for the future are laughable, but others, I was surprised to find how far back in time 'modern' trends had begun.
The author's tone in this book was, er, distinctive. I wonder if this is what 'academic' literature sounded like in the first half of the 20th century, or, if it was a put-on, a fake to appear 'intellectual', and therefore authoritative, to a mass market audience.
Some of the predictions for the future are laughable, but others, I was surprised to find how far back in time 'modern' trends had begun.
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Feb 08, 2008
Beth
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See comment for A Texan Looks at Lyndon
I found this on the sidewalk in New York and liked the cover. A discussion of post war US social stratification, glass ceilings all over. Like it. Told in a style of strained objectivity. Mad Men the TV show, Revolutionary Road, the book?
Jun 12, 2013
Erayne Gee
marked it as to-read
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Feb 19, 2013
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Feb 16, 2013
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Feb 09, 2013
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Jan 24, 2013
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