Find a copy online
Links to this item
VH7QX3XE2P.search.serialssolutions.com VIEW FULL TEXT
University of Alberta Access (3 Concurrent Users) from Ebook Central
archive.org Free eBook from the Internet Archive
openlibrary.org Additional information and access via Open Library

Find a copy in the library
Finding libraries that hold this item...
Details
Genre/Form: | Electronic book Electronic books |
---|---|
Additional Physical Format: | Print version: McNamee, Stephen J., 1950- Meritocracy myth. Lanham : Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2013 (DLC) 2013011708 (OCoLC)833918164 |
Material Type: | Document, Internet resource |
Document Type: | Internet Resource, Computer File |
All Authors / Contributors: |
Stephen J McNamee; Robert K Miller |
ISBN: | 9781442219830 1442219831 |
OCLC Number: | 852158241 |
Language Note: | English. |
Description: | 1 online resource |
Contents: | Acknowledgments -- The american dream : origins and prospects -- On being made of the right stuff : the case for merit -- The silver spoon : inheritance and the staggered start -- It's not what you know but -- : social and cultural capital -- Making the grade : education and mobility -- Being in the right place at the right time : the luck factor -- I did it my way : the decline of self-employment and the ascent of corporations -- An unlevel playing field : racism, sexism, and other isms -- Growing inequality in the twenty-first century -- Index -- About the authors. |
Responsibility: | Stephen J. McNamee and Robert K. Miller Jr. |
Abstract:
Reviews
Publisher Synopsis
This well-written and researched book on a neglected topic is a must-read. Essential. * CHOICE * McNamee and Miller explain that meritocracy is a myth and that there is no substitute for starting in advance of others in life, and that being female or a minority definitely makes you start behind. In this third edition, they lay out proof while streamlining their narrative. They examine the origins of the American dream, analyze the case for a merit-based system, and discuss the issue of inheritance (the "silver spoon"). They then go into the truth: social and cultural capital, education and mobility, and the luck factor count more than simply hard work. They describe other factors, such as the decline of self-employment and the ascent of corporations, racism, and sexism. They close with the observation that meritocracy is growing more and more into being a myth as inequality grows in the twenty-first century. * Book News, Inc. * Revised and updated third edition presents a challenge to the widely held American belief in meritocracy and considers the effect of nonmerit factors such as social status, race, heritage, and wealth of upward mobility. Discusses the American dream...racism, sexism, and other forms of inequality, and growing inequality in the twenty-first century. * Journal of Economic Literature * Every sociology student should read this clear and compelling book, and their instructors should too! The Meritocracy Myth reminds many of us why we became interested in sociology in the first place. And I suspect that many sociology students will soon find the same. -- Ronald C. Wimberley, North Carolina State University The Meritocracy Myth exposes the deceptive American rhetoric that hard work, talent and virtue are all that is necessary to make it to the top. With inequalities at the core of sociology, The Meritocracy Myth makes a valuable contribution to the field by closely examining the contributing mechanisms that perpetuate class disparities. For sociology students, reading The Meritocracy Myth is a great application of important sociological concepts and theories to explain how all of our lives are influenced by socio-economic class arrangements. The third edition is as relevant as ever in highlighting the importance of cultural myths that justify the exceedingly inequitable distribution of wealth in our modern society. -- Beth Davison, Appalachian State University The Meritocracy Myth deconstructs the discourse around the American Dream in a manner that is accessible by, and doesn't talk down to, the typical undergrad. Exceptionally well-written. -- Judi Kessler, Monmouth College In the land of opportunity, hard work and playing by the rules pays off and merit is rewarded by success.The wide-awake sociology of McNamee and Miller shines the bright light of reality on the myth to show that birth counts more and education less, and while luck is important, no one can count on it and those who play by the rules often benefit least. -- Paul Durrenberger, Pennsylvania State University Read more...


Tags
Similar Items
Related Subjects:(13)
- Social mobility -- United States.
- Equality -- United States.
- Social capital (Sociology) -- United States.
- Mobilité sociale -- États-Unis.
- Capital social (Sociologie) -- États-Unis.
- SOCIAL SCIENCE -- Social Classes.
- Equality.
- Social capital (Sociology)
- Social mobility.
- United States.
- Sociology & Social History.
- Social Sciences.
- Social Conditions.
User lists with this item (1)
- Sociology (Nov)(30 items)
by headju updated 2014-09-11