Somebodies and Nobodies: Overcoming the Abuse of Rank

by Robert W. Fuller

In the ongoing attempts to overcome racism and sexism in North America today, we are overlooking another kind of discrimination that is no less damaging and equally unjustifiable. It is a form of injustice that everyone knows, but no one discrimination based on rank. Low rank-signifying weakness, vulnerability, and the absence of power-marks you for abuse in much the same way that race, religion, gender and sexual orientation have long done. When discrimination is race-based, we call it racism; when it's gender-based, we call it sexism. By analogy, rank-based discrimination might be called "rankism." Somebodies and Nobodies explains our reluctance to confront rankism, and argues that abuse based on power differences is no more justified than abuse based on color or gender differences. It shows where analyses based on identity fall short and, using dozens of examples to illustrate the argument, traces many forms of injustice and unfairness to rankism. Somebodies and Nobodies unmasks rankism as The Feminine Mystique unmasked sexism. It demythologizes the prevailing social consensus-the "Somebody Mystique"-to demonstrate the pervasiveness and corrosiveness of rankism in our personal lives and social institutions. The book introduces new language and concepts that illuminate the subtle, often dysfunctional workings of power in our social interactions. It presents rankism as the last hurdle on the long road from aristocracy to a true meritocracy, brings into focus a dignitarian revolution that is already taking shape and offers a preview of post-rankist society. Robert W. Fuller taught physics at Columbia University in New York, where he co-authored the classic text Mathematics for Classical and Quantum Physics. He then served as president of Oberlin College and, subsequently, worked internationally as a "citizen diplomat" to promote democracy in developing nations. He has four children and lives in Berkeley, California.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sociology, Politics, Business, Society, Social Science, Psychology

208 pages, Hardcover

First published March 28, 2003

About the author

Robert W. Fuller is author of Somebodies and Nobodies, All Rise: Somebodies, Nobodies, and the Politics of Dignity, and (with co-author Pamela Gerloff) Dignity for All: How to Create a World Without Rankism. He coined the term rankism and is active worldwide in the Dignity Movement. His latest books are Religion and Science: A Beautiful Friendship?; Genomes, Menomes, Wenomes: Neuroscience and Human Dignity; Belonging: A Memoir, The Wisdom of Science; The Theory of Everybody; and The Rowan Tree: A Novel.

He earned his Ph.D. in physics at Princeton University and taught at Columbia, where he co-authored Mathematics of Classical and Quantum Physics. He then served as president of Oberlin College.

On a trip to India, where he was a consultant to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Fuller witnessed firsthand the horrors of genocidal famine. Subsequently, he met with President Carter to propose the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger.

During the 1980s, Fuller traveled frequently to the USSR, working to improve the Cold War relationship with the U.S. For many years, he served as chairman of the global nonprofit Internews, which promotes democracy via free and independent media.

Fuller is now an international authority on dignity and rankism (abusive, discriminatory, or exploitative behavior towards those of lower rank). In 2011, he was the keynote speaker at "The National Conference on Dignity for All" hosted by the president of Bangladesh. Fuller has also served as visiting professor at the Indian Institute of Science and the National Institute of Advanced Studies in Bangalore. His work has been featured in scores of books and publications including the New York Times, O Magazine, and The Contemporary Goffman.

In his books, Fuller makes the case that rankism is a major obstacle to organizational effectiveness and develops a “politics of dignity” that addresses issues of social justice.

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be mandatory reading for all, probably in high school, but it's certainly a relevant read for anyone. Basically, it defines a new term, rankism, as the abuse of rank in any capacity. Rankism is a broad umbrella that encompasses racism (rankism by a majority race over a minority race) and sexism (rankism of men over women, or conceivably the other way around, but also abuse of anyone with power over another, such as a work relationship between manager and employee, especially between an executive and secretary. Giving this pervasive form of abuse a name will allow us to boldly point out any incidences we see, and make the abuser not only ashamed, but aware that what he or she is doing is wrong. Better yet, this book will force you to consider every relationship in your life with more empathy, and force you to be aware that some actions you make might seem harmless to you, but might be quite abusive to others. For one, it definitely changed my perspective of quite a few of my relationships.

[Tomislav · Rating 3 out of 5]

29 December 2008 - ***. The premise of this book is that "rankism" is the final obstacle to egalitarian society, subsuming racism, sexism, classism, and all the other discriminatory -isms. Fuller identifies and labels what I agree is one of the fundamental problems in human relations - that of the abuse of social rank, and violation of individual human dignity. The book is at its strongest while citing examples rather than abstracting. I found it to be full of thoughtful specific observations of society, business, education, international relations, and family dynamics. Unfortunately, the book suffers from excessive repetition of its obvious premise, and gives inadequate means for addressing abuse beyond calling for the founding of a "movement.”

I read a Review Copy of Somebodies and Nobodies by Robert W. Fuller, which I received in October 2004 from New Society Publishers through bookcrossing.com. The title was released in April 2004.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing way of seeing at the world! People need to read this book, and they will start looking at relationships in a whole new light. No one likes to get dissed - not by their family members, their boss, the uptight store clerk, their teacher, etc. Let's all treat each other with the dignity we all deserve as humans. Read this book!

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I heard this author on NPR and thought the book sounded interesting. So, when the opportunity came up through BookCrossing to get a copy, said, "Yes!"

Unfortunately, I am left with the distinct impression that the author had a great article or essay and tried to expand it into a full book. Had he just left off after the first chapter, it would have been good.

[Tim Mcleod · Rating 2 out of 5]

The premise of this book was worthy, but filled with so much schlock that I had a hard time staying engaged. There were too many trite references to important social movements, which cheapened the effect they were supposed to have.
It would better serve the reader boiled down to a large essay. The recommended readings after the epilogue were excellent however.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at the consequences of rankism, or discrimination of any kind based on who has the power at the time. I thought it was insightful and I liked the examples and stories given, but I thought it was a little repetitive towards the end.

CMB

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this in connection with a feature story I was doing (http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05072/...) -- or, to be honest, I read it because the title intrigued me, and then I decided to write a story about it. I can't claim that Fuller is the first or most original thinker to struggle with our inability to treat people in an equal and even-handed way, but he makes a strong case that our need to be special -- to achieve rank -- manifests itself far too often in the desire to make others be less special. If you consider this a "duh" philosophy, Fuller at least asks the uncomfortable question: then why haven't we overcome this?

[Aggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend and I used this book as a jumping off point for a series of workshops on "rankism" the term the author uses to explain the abuse of rank in our society. He contends that it is this "ism" that is the umbrella under which all the isms fall. There are many thought-provoking moments in the book. The one that comes to mind is that often we are complicit in our own abuse... and once we've been abused by rank, we are so very likely to become an abuser of others. Very worth the read.

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

From this book I learned somethings that I use in my teaching style. The idea of giving up control can be scary, but the rewards are unimaginable.

[Jamie St Cyr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book. I felt it really showed you all perspectives and helped validate some of those feelings I have had regarding rank abuse.

[Daniel Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding book that covers an issue not discussed enough: rankism. It is prevalent all through society via entrenched systems, bureaucracies, and mindsets. Highly recommended for those in a position of leadership. While we usually discuss other "isms", such as race, sex, and prejudice, they all start from a self-imposed shortcut of "ranking".

Page 37 captures what I believe is the essential problem we face in our culture now, especially in the workforce:
"Though most of us have experienced rankism, we do not routinely protest it, at least not to the perpetrators. We limit our complaints to those who share our station. Uncle Tom's policy of "to get along, go along" recommends itself to almost everyone when it comes to confronting rankism. As a short-term solution this is understandable because the power difference upon which rankism is predicated makes resisting it dangerous. BUT IN THE LONG RUN, APPEASEMENT FAILS. Uncle Tom ended up being whipped to death."

Even how we approach failure instills a mindset of rankism. Being shamed into taking excessive caution to avoid mistakes supports rankism. Focusing too much on the "right" answer supports rankism over creativity. Every accomplishment by somebody is built upon the work and trials and errors of numerous unknowns, or nobodies.

The book ends with a call to action and suggestions on fighting against rankism; to be mindful in your daily actions that you approach others as being "somebodies", or, that you work to ensure everyone has an EQUAL CHANCE to be somebody.

[Yahya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Filled with good thoughts on various issues from Rankism point of view.

I think it gives a fresh and underlooked prospective in Sexism and Racism. I liked the author view in celebrity and how the concept have evolved over the years. Also, he addressed the human need to be recognised by others, to prove him/her worth of existence.
“Recognition is to the psyche what nourishment is to the body…when I see you seeing me, I feel that I exist. When I see you seeing me see you, we exist”"

... It looks to the rankism for different aspects; social, religious, economic, and political. what makes this book special is that it gives real scenarios of daily struggles with rankism from people with different social status. Furthermore, Robert acknowledges the presence and importance of rank in institutions. He made a vary important distinction between rank abuse and constructive rankism(which is based on respecting the individual dignity)

"Liberty by itself doesn’t ensure human dignity" interesting idea to contemplate.

A book to be re-read.

[Paul Signorelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The will to contribute arises from an ingrained sense of responsibility—to ourselves, our fellow humans, and posterity. If we do not contribute something to others—make ourselves public in some way—a part of us dies. To be invisible is to be deprived of even a chance for recognition. As the early psychologist William James put it, ‘The deepest principle of human nature is the craving to be appreciated.’”
--Robert Fuller, "Somebodies and Nobodies: Overcoming the Abuse of Rank," p. 48

Twenty years after the original publication of the book, Robert Fuller's thoughtfully inspiring "Somebodies and Nobodies" remains a timely examination of the often damaging/stifling roles hierarchies play in the ways we interact with those we perceive to be "somebodies" and those we ignore as "nobodies."

Examining "rankism" as a foundational structure that encompasses racism, sexism, and other "isms," he makes a compelling case for recognizing and tackling the often pernicious effects of rankism in an attempt to foster positive change in our personal lives and interactions, our social institutions, and in international relations.

It's a wonderful book for anyone interested in building strong, positive communities in a variety of settings, and should serve as a positive source of inspiration for anyone interested in advocacy and activism.

[Pyro · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was excited to get this book back in 03 or 04 from the author on Bookcrossing. I really have tried for the past 17 or so years to get through this book. The book was not at all engaging. I have never despised a book in my life as I have this one. I read War and Peace in less time and I finished that one. This one I think will never be finished by me as I can not find any reason to continue tormenting myself.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Copyright 2004, it is exactly on target for 2025. All of the failures, missteps and abuses are right there, in plain language and nothing new. The amazing part is the detail. It's as if someone wrote it in 2025 and backdated it. Wisdom.

[Babbett · Rating 3 out of 5]

The benefit of this book is thinking through the ways that rank and power can be wrongly used. It seemed as if the author is trying to add another ism. I was glad when I finished the book. The reading did remind me to keep the value of respect to others.

[Tammie Fullington · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book had a good premise, but was very repetitive. It would have made a good paper, but I don't think there was enough material for a book.

[Elijah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a masterful underpinning to a lot of the truth that we see playing out in grand theater in our current state of political affairs and movements the world over.

The way, the truth and the life is my vote for this book.

[Adam Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. Fuller argues that many of the isms we fight - sexism, racism, etc. - actually involve problems of what he calls "rankism," the abuse of rank and power to oppress, oppose, discredit, and dismiss people. Many white people dismiss minorities like this, bosses dismiss employees, politicians and experts and the powerful and wealthy dismiss everyone else. So the book is an attempt to expose and dismantle the abuse of rank.

Unfortunately the book isn't quite what I was looking for. Fuller still accepts the validity of rank, condemning merely the abuse of rank. But anyone who has done research on the function of power and rank is that these kinds of ranking systems are fundamentally abusive by arranging human beings of equal worth and dignity into an order of value. I agree with his premise, but the solution is quite a bit more radical than he cares to admit. I applaud his chapters dissecting the notion of heroes, and want to get rid of the problem he diagnoses. So his work on the problem is quite good, if not quite far enough in the right direction, but his solutions don't, it seems to me, to actually alleviate the problem. If we want to eradicate work-place rankism, let the workers own the means of production and merge capital and labor. If we want to eliminate the rankism in the teacher-student relationship in the schools, let's adopt some Montessori-style egalitarian educational models. The solutions are there, Fuller just doesn't like them, or be aware that they exist.

[melydia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm afraid I need to rename this The Book of the Big Duh. It's nothing but 180 pages of painfully obvious statements presented as if they were uncommonly insightful observations. This book introduces the concept of rankism, which is basically a general term for all forms of groundless bias, including (but not limited to) racism, sexism, ageism, and homophobia. Anyone can be a victim of rankism, even rich white men, and it's bad for not only self-esteem but productivity as well. Whenever you treat someone poorly because you feel more important in some way (socially, for instance), they pass along the indignity to someone lower than them, and so it continues on down the line. Everyone is a somebody in certain aspects of his/her life and nobodies in others. Everyone wants recognition, and some people will go to drastic measures to get it. The solution is not to do away with ranking systems all together, but rather to treat others with dignity and allow them more control over their own lives so they never get pigeonholed as a loser, both to others and in their own minds.

Which are simply not groundbreaking ideas.

I am sad to live in a society where this book was viewed as necessary. Stand up for yourself when you're wronged, but being disrespected does not give you license to disrespect others. This is not a difficult concept to grasp. Why do we need an official movement? Why not just put it into practice in our own lives?

[Spiegel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Back in 2005 I wrote a really long entry (several actually) about this book at Bookcrossing, which I'll attempt to summarize now in 2017:
The book didn't grab me, perhaps because I'm not really into non-fiction. Overall I felt the author was trying too hard to make the concept he presents important and revolutionary (I wonder how it compares to early books against sexism and racism). It covers parent-children relationships, education, health systems, job relations, religion hierarchy, international politics, all the traditional -isms, etc. Perhaps part of the problem with the book is the focus on the United States. Maybe teacher rankism is the main reason why students don't perform well in the US; here in Brazil I'd argue that there are other factors, like lack of funding for education or just plain lack of food for the children. I also had issues with the definition of "somebody" and "nobody". Maybe I missed something here, but it seemed like there was a shift in the book towards those words meaning "famous" and "unknown" and how it was necessary to go through cycles of somebodiness and nobodiness to be a fullfilled and creative individual, thus creating a new hierarchy that I didn't find appealing at all.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am sad that this book didn't sell as well as it should have. In our fame and status obsessed society there is a lack of dignity and respect that people share who aren't "somebody". It gives you a interesting and sobering view of the way our world works where value is placed on people with status and money and/or fame however fleeting. The author's premise is basically that our society demeans and ultimately dismisses those who don't have status. What the criteria is for conferring status is capricious and disingenuous at best in our current state of affairs. He envisions a world where we all have value by virtue of who were are not what we own or how much fame we have. As someone who has experienced the marginalization of being a nobody and then by dint of marriage becoming a someone with out changing who I fundamentally am I know first hand the indignity and confusion the societal capricious assignations can be. We all deserve dignity and respect whether we are are dishwashers, movie stars, single mothers, soldiers or senators. It is a moving and thought provoking workd

[Tommy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was Fuller's first book about "rankism" and I had read All Rise first which I think is a better book. This book was paramount for the idea it presented but Fuller sometimes belabors points that don't seem that complex.

Maybe it seemed tedious and repetitive to me because I was already familiar with the concept and it was like preaching to the choir. Otherwise this is a decent piece of accessible sociology.

A worthwhile read but reading All Rise is probably sufficient.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Fuller clearly put his heart and soul into Somebodies and Nobodies and it was certainly an interesting read. I found some of the repetition a bit tedious so I have to admit to skimming the latter third of the book. There is a lovely bibliography in the back and I will be perusing it for some ideas to add to my wishlist. I am glad I read the book; it verified a lot of the life lessons my grandmother taught me as a child.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful book, ingroups of all sort, beware! Clearly defines a major problem that has gone overlooked for too long. What's needed, seems to me, is a self-defense class, we all face this from time to time. As one retired CEO said, "It wouldn't have been so bad if they'd left me on the Christmas card list just one more year." :-)

[Lindsay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kind of enjoyed the book. It describes the discrimination of rankism and I thought that most of the book was common sense, but it was nice to see it put into writing. Hopefully the ideas in the book will be put into action.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard to wrap my head around this utopian notion of a "dignitarian" society, but many of the ideas have merit. Worth a read. Somewhat too embedded in American culture/government and perhaps not revolutionary enough. YMMV.

[Ben Bederson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great concept - rank is the broader framework for talking about 'isms (sexism, rankism, etc.), and it appears everywhere. However, this (early) book doesn't go far enough in considering how to deal with it. However, it makes a good case for its existence and problems.

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

While rankism may not actually be the root of all evil. The idea that all the ism's are related and that none are defeated until all of them are is compelling and important to evangelize.

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this last June. Can't remember taking away anything significant, so I rated it a 2.