Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit

by Sloan Wilson, Jonathan Franzen (Introduction)

3.75 of 5 stars 3.75 · rating details · 945 ratings · 115 reviews

Here is the story of Tom and Betsy Rath, a young couple with everthing going for them: three healthy children, a nice home, a steady income. They have every reason to be happy, but for some reason they are not. Like so many young men of the day, Tom finds himself caught up in the corporate rat race - what he encounters there propels him on a voyage of self-discovery that w...more

Paperback, 288 pages

Published October 23rd 2002 by Da Capo Press (first published 1954)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit by Sloan Wilson

If You Like Mad Men . . .

3rd out of 33 books — 39 voters

Retro Reads

44th out of 122 books — 81 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 1,889)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jun 05, 2013 Richard rated it 4 of 5 stars

Book Circle Reads 158

Rating: 4* of five

The Publisher Says: Here is the story of Tom and Betsy Rath, a young couple with everthing going for them: three healthy children, a nice home, a steady income. They have every reason to be happy, but for some reason they are not. Like so many young men of the day, Tom finds himself caught up in the corporate rat race - what he encounters there propels him on a voyage of self-discovery that will turn his world inside out.

At once a searing indictment of cor...more

18 likes · like · see review

Mar 16, 2008 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Sara by: Bill Hiatt

LOVED this. I'm a sucker for anything 1950s, and this was a great look at the depressing conformity of that era.

My dad recommended this book to me after I raved about the AMC show "Mad Men." It's pretty clear that the show's writers took the plot almost directly from this book. Both deal with the same dynamic: War-hero husbands quietly dealing with the mental fall-out of WW2, housewives stifled by a life of cleaning and baking, and what happens when no one is allowed to talk about how they're r...more

6 likes · like · see review

Dec 24, 2012 Kelli rated it 4 of 5 stars

The post-script to the newest edition, written by Sloan Wilson, was actually the Foreword to the older edition. It was moved to the back to make way for an Introduction by Jonathan Franzen, which I think aptly reflects the current readership's feelings on the text. [We love hearing about your whimsical mimeograph machine, Sloan, and the internal fights about what constitutes strong character for a man, but can you step aside for this other guy that writes about smartphones and also bares his wre...more The post-script to the newest edition, written by Sloan Wilson, was actually the Foreword to the older edition. It was moved to the back to make way for an Introduction by Jonathan Franzen, which I think aptly reflects the current readership's feelings on the text. [We love hearing about your whimsical mimeograph machine, Sloan, and the internal fights about what constitutes strong character for a man, but can you step aside for this other guy that writes about smartphones and also bares his wretched, lost soul in his novels? Thanks.]

For example, Wilson's portion explains the roots of "The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit" (autobiographical) and its surprising (to him) stumble and then fast ascent to icon status. Just as surprisingly, to him, the book eventually became a joke, a handle that comedians and late-night talk show hosts would use to elicit laughs at a generation's expense (and thus Mr. Wilson's). Having updated the post-script to the 1980s, Wilson sounds relieved that the book has once again found a comfortable home with a generation of people interested in learning about suburban America during the 1950s-1960s with less derision and anger toward those previous generations. He is glad the book can be a time-capsule tome instead of a straw man to bat around while we grumble about consumerist culture and buy our 3rd toaster of the year because the cheapie versions keep breaking. He mentions that he wasn't trying to write "War and Peace." He however, does concede that every writer secretly hopes this is the end result.

Jonathan Franzen, on his end as one of the voices (a voice) of our generation, gives the first half of the book glowing reviews and then essentially tells one to stop reading at the midway mark. Mostly because Mrs. Rath, the wife of the title character, is too ingratiating and submissive, not to mention all-suffering for her husband. My recommendation is not to allow her character to deter you. I thought it me, but my interest in "what happened next" kept me going.

Recommended for "Mad Men" lovers that found "Revolutionary Road" a little too heavy.(less)

like · see review

Nov 09, 2011 Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars

The publishers sure have missed a marketing trick on this book - it should be subtitled 'for fans of Mad Men' or some such - the parallels are so marked. Even the names of the two characters, Tom and Betsy, are spookily like Don and Betty - or maybe not so spookily; apparently Mr Draper is reading a copy in one episode of the (brilliant) TV show. Anyway, this is the original if you like - written at the time, rather than the retrospectively - and a fascinating insight into the mores and angst of...more

like · see review

Jun 21, 2011 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Tom and Betsy Rath feel like they should be happy with their lives but aren’t. A WWII veteran, Tom has a good job but wants a better one. They have three lovely children but are frustrated with the way they have no social life or energy. Their house is nice enough, but they both want something better. They are stuck in lower middle class and don’t know what they want or how to get it. When Tom is offered a job with a major company, he runs into an old veteran friend who knows one of Tom’s darkes...more

like · see review

Oct 01, 2010 Mike rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

I had through my life occasionally heard the phrase "the Man in the Gray Flannel Suit" used as an unflattering term for the unreflective salaryman. Then Mad Men came out, and I re-read The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test and I thought that it was just about time to read this one. So I did.

I was surprised to discover that the book is not a long screed about the meaninglessness of life as a gray-suited salaryman. It is instead about a man who faces familiar problems. Tom, the protagonist, has to figur...more I had through my life occasionally heard the phrase "the Man in the Gray Flannel Suit" used as an unflattering term for the unreflective salaryman. Then Mad Men came out, and I re-read The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test and I thought that it was just about time to read this one. So I did.

I was surprised to discover that the book is not a long screed about the meaninglessness of life as a gray-suited salaryman. It is instead about a man who faces familiar problems. Tom, the protagonist, has to figure out how to get his family out of a small home, put his children into a good school, and pay for them to go to college. He has to figure out how to get over the War—the only time in his life when he felt really alive—and make up with his wife for everything he did and did not do during and after the War. He has to figure out how to be true to himself while also continuing to be employed and please his employer.

What I was surprised to find out was that Tom did not have a jaundiced view of his employer, Mr. Hopkins. You might think, given the book's reputation, that the main character would have an awakening and see the ridiculousness of his life, and rebel against Mr. Hopkins, the 18-hour-a-day workaholic. But Tom does not dislike Mr. Hopkins; rather, he respects him. He just knows he can't be like him.

The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, far from being a story about disillusionment and awakening—perhaps a la Revolutionary Road—is actually a novel about becoming who you are, and realizing who that is. If you want to read about the banality of suburbia, read Revolutionary Road, or maybe Dharma Bums. Don't read this.

The ending, without giving anything away, is what keeps this book from being a great book. It is justly remembered as a period piece. When we talk about post-war literature, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit deserves a place near the top of the reading and discussion list. But it is not a five-star book because despite being an excellent story, it's a good book, rather than a great one. That said, I recommend it, especially to the man looking ahead at the rest of his life and wondering what to do about it.(less)

like · see review

Feb 12, 2010 Dan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Jul 24, 2012 D.M. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: literature-and-fiction

What an extraordinary novel! This had been on my "must reads" list for sometime and I found an old Giant Pan copy 1958 edition with one of those great dramatic Pan covers from that era and decided the time was to read it. At first I found breaking into it a tad slow and I perceived in the writing style that the author, Wilson, was tentively finding his way with it, or maybe that was his intention, for later the narrative takes on momentum as events unfold. My interest peaked, however, when I rea...more What an extraordinary novel! This had been on my "must reads" list for sometime and I found an old Giant Pan copy 1958 edition with one of those great dramatic Pan covers from that era and decided the time was to read it. At first I found breaking into it a tad slow and I perceived in the writing style that the author, Wilson, was tentively finding his way with it, or maybe that was his intention, for later the narrative takes on momentum as events unfold. My interest peaked, however, when I read in chapter five:

"There's been a rumour going around lately that United Broadcasting is just trying to make money and is half-hearted about improving people's minds".

I thought then to myself that things in the media have come a long way since big companies have had a conscience about "improving minds". These days there appears more trash on free-to-air tv than anything else and cable channels have deteriorated since their introduction to Austalia. But that's the way big business has gone with multi-nationals having such large tentacles: if tv and cable doesn't satisfy, the masses can always buy and download the tv media themselves. And only a certain number of enormous companies own all for their own capitalist interests.

And this is what a good novel can do - make you think - and carry over from the time in which it was written (in this novel it's post-war 50s) into successive decades. I was drawn into Tom Rath's story and how he, a survivor from combat in WW2, finds himself in another kind of battle, having to think so earnestly through the troubles that come along when he applies for and gets a new job in a huge media company, his somewhat spoiled wife, three boisterous children, an elderly relative and the various other circumstances that dramatically coincide.

But what stood out most strikingly was the message and that is that throughout all of his trials, for a man (or any individual for that matter) to have courage to bear their own burden in the world, even if it means to stand on shaky ground for a time. Rath is a man who is tested and through diligent hardwork, patience and character, he is able to succeed. He is faced with a choice to be honest about what he really wants from life or succumb to the wishes of his dynamic employer. Would he be so owned and give in to a path that seems to have the least resistance? The crux of it is that he chooses honesty - honesty over fear, honesty over compromise. That's a thing of courage.

This is the sort of novel that will always stand the test of time.(less)

like · see review

Sep 15, 2012 Meghan Walsh rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love the 50's! I had to read this book and watch the movie for a 1950's History Class I'm taking at Marquette University. Tom Rath is a man who struggles with most parts of his life. He is under stress at work and at home. Tom gets pressure from co-workers and bosses and his wife to excel and do better. But, Tom wants to find the perfect work-life balance. This book clearly displays a man who wants to conform to societal norms, yet others want him to spread his wings. It even touches on such i...more

like · see review

Apr 19, 2012 Martin rated it 4 of 5 stars

excellent depiction of fifties america (i am almost tempted to give 5 stars, because i really liked this novel) and its main character - a young world-war II-veteran, father of three little children, living in connecticut, commuting to a bland job in manhattan ... john cheever and richard yates come to mind, though sloan wilson is not quite on the same literary level. unlike yates and cheever he also makes sure his characters aren't hit by major misfortune or tragedy in the end. many contemporar...more

like · see review

Apr 13, 2012 Live Unit rated it 4 of 5 stars

I bought this book in Goodwill (don't judge!). It was indeed a rare gem among stones. I was immediately engrossed since page one. What I loved about the book was the writing. It is flawless, beautiful, and sexy. The aspiring author in me appreciates the finer art in literature. Transition from scene to scene contrasted perfectly with the imagery of the surroundings, which mostly consists of the main character stuck in one office after the other (if not a office, than a room).

As for the charac...more I bought this book in Goodwill (don't judge!). It was indeed a rare gem among stones. I was immediately engrossed since page one. What I loved about the book was the writing. It is flawless, beautiful, and sexy. The aspiring author in me appreciates the finer art in literature. Transition from scene to scene contrasted perfectly with the imagery of the surroundings, which mostly consists of the main character stuck in one office after the other (if not a office, than a room).

As for the characters, Tom Rath was the one that stood out the most. Not because he is the main character, it's because he was the only one well-established and written. Sloan Wilson intended us to remain focus on him, clearly I was. This is not the first or last time I will be entranced by the male lead who is charismatic and imaginary. Minor literary crush aside, this is indeed a period piece and not at all romantic if you're looking for romance, it's very minute and also a minor sub-plot to the overall story.

It is indeed post WWII, and he clearly does have PTSD, but manages it fairly well, by forgetting about his past and throwing himself into work. He is a 9 to 5 man and very good at what he does; writing speeches. Despite being confident and ambitious, he does have his doubts brought on by changing jobs and having no clue on what his boss(es) want him to accomplish.

He struggles with the past, present and future. Mostly with the future and past as he has no time or desire to live in the present. He wants a better job, on his own terms, but with more money and more opportunities of advancements, to give his family a more desirable future. It is the past that he contends with on a daily basis. His boyhood, his father's death, the war and a mistress he left behind in war-torn Italy, leaves him a very confused man.

To sum this up without an awkward love confession, the novel is richly detailed, very smart-writing that made me feel very intelligent when reading. If you're interested in a message, there is none that I can clearly pinpoint. It's about money and power, mostly money and it's subtle influences upon modern society and how all things are not how they appear on the surface. It is indeed a very enjoyable read and I found Tom Rath a character you can relate too and root for, an underdog for sure.
(less)

like · see review

Aug 09, 2010 Nick H rated it 4 of 5 stars

On the heels of my enjoyment watching the first 3 seasons of Mad Men, the name of this book came up as a nice period piece that was mined for cultural details on the series. Set in '53, the era is a little earlier than the show. That made little difference, though. It hit a chord reading about Tom's, the main character, struggle to deal with his combat time in WWII, and the grand meaning of those events. The struggles of coming home to a country that didn't know what PTSD was, and wanted you to...more

like · see review

May 18, 2012 Marty rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

This is a simply and beautifully told narrative of self discovery in post WW2 American society. It describes the pressures, not just of the 1950’s, but of our subsequent society as well, to conform in our money-driven, success-oriented work world through sacrificing other aspects of our lives, i.e. family - in essence to become the man in the gray flannel suit - and one man’s choice to modify that path. Post traumatic stress disorder, although it was not known by that name in the 50’s, and is us...more

like · see review

Jan 21, 2011 Dave rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Dec 03, 2011 Morgan Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars

how is it that some books, like this one, seem to capture a very specific time, but also capture the sentiments and understandings of so many other times, currenttimes included. (see also bel ami same capturing) are the authors on to something magical, are they so intuned with modern and not so modern culture that they can chop it down to something so utterly tangible that people yesterday today tomorrow, will all totally get it. for a while i thought, how fabulous would it be to have a modern r...more

like · see review

May 15, 2007 Christina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

They drank a lot of cocktails in the 1950's.

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 29, 2013 Johanneke rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: english, english-original

Ik geloof dat dit boek misschien wel mijn nummer 1 boek van de troon gestoten heeft, na 10 jaar...

In het begin lijkt dit verhaal over een jongeman met een gezin aan het eind van de jaren '50, een beetje huishoudelijk. Veel mededelingen over geld, verhuizen, over hogerop willen komen in het leven, over twijfels en kiezen voor wat het veiligst is. Maar gaandeweg kom je erachter waarom het zo is, waarom Tom de hoofdpersoon (de degelijke man in het grijze maatpak) zo denkt, zo twijfelt, zo zekerhei...more

like · see review

Dec 29, 2012 Erik Eckel rated it 4 of 5 stars

“It doesn’t really matter. Here goes nothing. It will be interesting to see what happens.” These are the phrases Tom Rath leverages to power through stressful, challenging situations.

Rath is the protagonist in Sloan Wilson’s The Man In The Gray Flannel Suit , which landed with impact in 1955. The novel, a scathing indictment of corporate cultures that encourage men to sacrifice personal lives for the corporation’s betterment, occupies a unique position within American literature.

Wilson wrote the...more

like · see review

Aug 27, 2012 Redshirt Knitting rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

This book was recommended to me as being "something every Mad Men fan should read." It has similar themes, but was ineptly written.

About 2/3rds of the book's bulk is comprised of characters either A) talking to each other, or B) thinking out loud. You start to appreciate the old writing class cliche about "show me, don't tell me."

If you want some 50s angst, check out Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar." It touches many of the same issues, and is about a million times better than this book in every re...more

like · see review

Mar 26, 2012 Anthony Mathenia rated it 3 of 5 stars

I picked up The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit with the understanding that it inspired the popular television show Mad Men. In reading the book the similarities are readily apparent. Both deal with the white collar corporate environment of the late 1950's, early 1960's. The leads in both are war time veterans attempting to find where they fit in, balancing their New York careers with their suburban home life and struggling with their duty to their wives and the torch they still carry in their hear...more I picked up The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit with the understanding that it inspired the popular television show Mad Men. In reading the book the similarities are readily apparent. Both deal with the white collar corporate environment of the late 1950's, early 1960's. The leads in both are war time veterans attempting to find where they fit in, balancing their New York careers with their suburban home life and struggling with their duty to their wives and the torch they still carry in their heart for another.

The lead character is Tom Rath, a former World War II paratrooper, working a corporate job and slogging along in the pursuit of happiness. His wife Betsy dreams of moving up in the world and encourages Tom to try for a potentially lucrative job as a public relations professional in a major television network. Tom lands the job and has an opportunity for real advancement as the right hand man of network head Ralph Hopkins. Hopkins is consumed with work at the expense of his family life and Tom has to decide if he is willing to make the same sacrifice. The main story is interesting enough but the subplots were pretty flat and unnecessary, such as Tom's legal attempt to obtain an inherited home versus a rival claimant.

Where this book is most compelling is when it deals with the brutality of wartime. Tom fights the inner demons that come from the death of his friends and the enemies he killed with his own hands. There is a very moving passage in the book where Tom attempts to rationalize the lunacy of wartime with his post war life. It begins with, "they ought to begin wars with a course in basic training and end them with a course in basic forgetting." So true.

The writing in this novel is serviceable to the story, neither good or bad. I wasn't wowed by the plot of the the Gray Flannel Suit. It often seemed to drag, such as when it dealt with Tom's constant attempt to rewrite a speech for Hopkins. As a whole, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, is an authentic capsule of the mentality of the time and I suppose worth reading for that, especially for those interested in the era. (less)

like · see review

Apr 29, 2010 Núria rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, 5-favoritos, literatura-en-ingles, mios, siglo-xx

Ambientada en la década de los cincuenta, cuando no se hablaba de las frustraciones sino que se ahogaban en martinis, “El hombre del traje gris” de Sloan Wilson se centra en Tom Rath, un hombre que lleva una vida idéntica a la de miles de hombres de aquella época. Tom Rath vive en Connecticut pero cada mañana coge el tren para ir a trabajar a Nueva York. Tom tiene una mujer preciosa que le espera en casa y tres adorables hijos pequeños, pero esto no parece suficiente; en la pared del comedor hay...more Ambientada en la década de los cincuenta, cuando no se hablaba de las frustraciones sino que se ahogaban en martinis, “El hombre del traje gris” de Sloan Wilson se centra en Tom Rath, un hombre que lleva una vida idéntica a la de miles de hombres de aquella época. Tom Rath vive en Connecticut pero cada mañana coge el tren para ir a trabajar a Nueva York. Tom tiene una mujer preciosa que le espera en casa y tres adorables hijos pequeños, pero esto no parece suficiente; en la pared del comedor hay un desconchado en forma de interrogante y las malas hierbas pueblan el jardín. Tom, pero especialmente su mujer (que por algo se pasa el día en casa) odian el vecindario en el que viven, sólo porque sus vecinos son personas como ellos, gente que desea marcharse de este barrio para ir a uno mejor.

“El hombre del traje gris” hace una radiografía de la vida en los suburbios durante los años 50 del mismo modo que la hizo John Cheever, pero Sloan Wilson no es tan amargo y pesimista, y en lugar de poner émfasis en las insatisfacciones y la frustración, prefiere centrarse en los esfuerzos que hace el protagonista para conseguir un equilibrio que le permita ser moderadamente feliz. No es que a Tom le guste el dinero, pero sí le gusta lo que se puede hacer con él, por ejemplo pagar en el futuro la universidad a sus tres hijos. Pero Tom tampoco se quiere matar trabajando para su familia, sábados, domingos y vacaciones incluidas, y luego no poder estar nunca con ellos. Tom lucha, como tantos otros, para poder equilibrar vida laboral y vida privada. Pero estos no son los dos únicos mundos que intenta armonizar Tom, también intenta reconciliar pasado y presente, y su traumática experiencia como paracaidista en la segunda guerra mundial con su reintroducción en la vida civil.

Se ha acusado muchas veces esta novela de “conformista”, como si este adjetivo tuviera una connotación peyorativa por naturaleza. Tom Wrath a veces es pesimista, casi siempre consciente de sus limitaciones y en ocasiones duda de sus capacidades, pero nunca es un ser pasivo. ¿Qué tiene de malo intentar ser feliz con lo que uno tiene al alcance? Demasiadas veces parece que la literatura debe contar sólo grandes historias de amor, hechos heroicos, vidas rebeldes o cualquier cosa que se salga de la norma, cuando igual de épica puede ser la lucha de un hombre de traje gris que intenta conservar su individualidad en una sociedad que se empeña en anularla, como también lo pueden ser los esfuerzos de un hombre corriente para conservar cierta honestidad y sinceridad (para con los otros pero también consigo mismo) en un entorno hostil. El protagonista desea encontrar lo que los clásicos llamaban “aurea mediocritas”, un término medio que le permita ser feliz, porque sino ¿qué otra opción tiene? ¿Hacerse beatnik y vagabundear por toda Norteamérica? Éste no sería precisamente el estilo de Tom Wrath.

El final de “El hombre del traje gris” puede parecer un final feliz al estilo de las películas de Frank Capra, pero como muchas de las películas de Frank Capra si uno se pone a analizar este supuesto final feliz no puede evitar empezar a ver fisuras. Por ejemplo, al final de “¡Qué bello es vivir!” George Bailey descubre que todo el pueblo se ha volcado para ayudarlo porque lo aprecian y, sí, esto está bien, pero no es lo que quería George Bailey en un principio; él quería viajar, descubrir el mundo y sobre todo no quedarse atrapado en Bedford Falls. De modo parecido, puede dar la sensación que Tom Wrath ha conseguido todo lo que quería, pero no se puede evitar pensar que esto no es suficiente y que, si lo ha conseguido, ha sido más que nada por un golpe de suerte y que, como en las numerosas ocasiones anteriores en las que todo parecía ir viento en popa, las cosas se volverán a torcer en el momento menos pensado. “El hombre del traje gris” es una obra en la que, por más que nunca se miren de frente, los sinsabores de la vida siempre están ahí escondidos, a punto de salir a la superficie en forma de jarrón estampado contra la pared. La novela se termina, pero uno tiene la sensación que la lucha por conseguir el equilibrio de Tom Wrath no se acabará jamás; las dificultades y las pequeñas frustraciones durarán toda la vida. Se podría decir que la lectura de John Cheever deja un sabor amargo, mientras que la de Sloan Wilson deja una sensación agridulce.
(less)

like · see review

Jun 12, 2010 Valeska rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this book a while ago, but it is one of my favorites. I find the disconnect interesting that "the man in the gray flannel suit" has become a stereotype of the working stiff, while the titular character was trying to find the right work/family balance and actually started the book working for a non-profit foundation.

I think if you have interests in TV series such as Mad Men or the 1950s/1960s, you would find this a good read.

like · see review

May 09, 2010 Margie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-time-favourites, 1950s-literature

As a fan of Mad Men I had to get my hands on this book and it exceeded every expectation I had for it. While the writing is simple, the ideas that bubbled beneath are so complex and fine that if I were asked to explain it to another person, I'd struggle to do it justice. Some books, especially the classics, sort of lose you midway, because they cease to be relevant to modern readers. This book, some might say, has become increasingly relevant since its initial publication and I was surprised at...more

like · see review

Jul 15, 2012 Kari Kypärä added it

Among the many titles classified "suburban fiction" in my bookshelf that I finally managed to read. The thrill of the reading experience is not plot driven- pleasure derives from the embarrassing and mundane experiences of the socially mobile characters which you tend to look down upon. If anyone has read the edition with Jonathan Franzen's preface I'd like to hear a recap what did he have to say about the book.

like · see review

Feb 09, 2011 Jeff rated it 3 of 5 stars

It's easy to see how this book influenced the writers of the series Mad Men. One of the writers obviously read this book. There are a lot of parallels. Both main characters in this book and that series have secrets from the war that they're keeping from their wives, Betsy and Betty, respectively. Both have three kids, the oldest of which is a girl. They both were profoundly impacted by the war (WWII and Korea). They both work for media companies in New York City (broadcasting/advertising) and co...more

like · see review

Jun 13, 2013 Larry rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While I enjoyed this book, it is dated and many will find it tedious. The notion of elevator operators for example will be unimaginable to readers under 40. It covers primarily a period between 1940 and 1955 in the life of a WWII paratrooper. He is plagued by demons affecting his ability to deal with his post-war life as a husband, father, and employee in New York.

The book has an underlying tone of honesty and straightforwardness no longer popular in modern (2013) society.

like · see review

Oct 13, 2011 Bill rated it 4 of 5 stars

One of the first books that addresses the sensible man trying to fit back into the corporate world. While it may have become over-rated as a Hollywood film, it provides insight into how Sloan Wilson tried to integrate into post-war corporate society. That's helpful to any liberal arts graduate trying to forge a career in the modern world.

like · see review

Apr 11, 2011 Jeanette rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-fiction, america, domestic-and-relationship-fiction

I didn't care for this one. It addresses middle-class dissatisfactions similar to those explored in Revolutionary Road, but Sloan Wilson's treatment is dry and pedestrian. Perhaps it just takes a tortured soul like Dick Yates to approach these issues in a dramatically memorable way. Skip this one and go for the depth. Read Yates instead.

like · see review

Mar 14, 2011 Crystal rated it 4 of 5 stars

A great look at 1950s suburban life in post-WWII America. The eponymous man in the gray flannel, Tom Rath, traverses his way higher up the corporate ladder not for any great love of business or work, but simply because he needs more money to support his family. He has no affinity toward working harder for the love of his career, but simply wants to make ends meet in an upper-middle class manner.

Though this book is over 50 years old its main points still hold very true today. Good, quick read wi...more

like · see review

Sep 09, 2012 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars

For fans of MAD MEN and Revolutionary Road, the story of a couple on the east coast in the early 50's. He takes the train to Manhattan every morning, and is trying to climb the corporate ladder to fulfill the dreams of his wife. She is insipid, and he is pretty much clueless, but to me, it added up to a very good read.

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 62 63 next »

Literature

7 users

Novels

5 users

New York

3 users

Literature > American

3 users

Book Club

3 users

History > World War II

2 users

Literary Fiction

2 users

Sociology

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Books by Sloan Wilson

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About El hombre del tra...

3 trivia questions

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from The Man in the Gray Fl...

“The definition of a beautiful woman is one who loves me.” — 8 people liked it

“Believe me, I want you to have a good time,' he said gently, 'but people who have that primarily in mind rarely accomplish it.” — 1 person liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit
avg rating	preview: The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit Goodreads rating: 3.75 (945 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/90886.The_Man_in_the_Gray_Flannel_Suit?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347734082l/90886.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/90886.The_Man_in_the_Gray_Flannel_Suit?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit by Sloan Wilson[/url]

The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (24)

Genres

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Books by Sloan Wilson

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About El hombre del tra...

Quotes from The Man in the Gray Fl...