Of course, it wasn’t only in America that these changes were taking place. Back in Europe, this economic environment was also creating a new form of ideal self. In 1859, a former journalist, railwayman and political activist (and also, as it weirdly turns out, my great-great-uncle), Samuel Smiles, published Self Help, the first book of its kind and a surprise bestseller. His wish in writing it was ‘to stimulate youths to apply themselves diligently to right pursuits –
