| Description |
x, 362 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references (pages 281-341) and index. |
| Contents |
Prologue: Lives of quiet desperation -- Going bust in the age of go-ahead -- A reason in the man -- We are all speculators -- Central Intelligence Agency, since 1841 -- The big red book of third-rate men -- Misinformation and its discontents -- The war for ambition -- Big business and little men -- Epilogue: Attention must be paid. |
| Summary |
What makes somebody a Loser, a person doomed to unfulfilled dreams and humiliation? Nobody is born to lose, and yet failure embodies our worst fears. The Loser's history over the past two hundred years reveals the dark side of success, how economic striving reshaped the self and soul of America. From colonial days to the Columbine tragedy, cultural historian Sandage explores how failure evolved from a business loss into a personality deficit, from a career setback to a gauge of our self-worth. From private diaries, family letters, business records, and even early credit reports, Sandage reconstructs the dramas of real-life Willy Lomans. He unearths their confessions and denials, foolish hopes and lost faith, sticking places and changing times. Dreamers, suckers, and nobodies come to life, showing how the national quest for success remade the individual ordeal of failure.--From publisher description. |
| Awards |
Winner of the 2003 Thomas J. Wilson Prize. |
| Subject |
Social values -- United States -- History -- 19th century.
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Social values. |
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United States. |
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History. |
| Chronological Term |
19th century |
| Subject |
Losers -- United States -- History -- 19th century.
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Losers. |
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Failure (Psychology) -- United States -- History -- 19th century.
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Failure (Psychology) |
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Capitalism -- Social aspects -- United States -- History -- 19th century.
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Capitalism -- Social aspects. |
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Identity (Psychology) -- United States -- History -- 19th century.
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Identity (Psychology) |
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Stigma (Social psychology)
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Stigma (Social psychology) |
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Social status -- United States -- History -- 19th century.
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Social status. |
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Stigma. |
| Added Title |
History of failure in America |
| ISBN |
067401510X alkaline paper |
|
9780674015104 alkaline paper |
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9780674021075 paperback |
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