| Description |
x, 362 p. : ill. ; 22 cm. |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references 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 |
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. |
| Subject |
Social values -- United States -- History -- 19th century.
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Losers -- United States -- History -- 19th century.
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Failure (Psychology) -- United States -- History -- 19th century.
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Capitalism -- Social aspects -- United States -- History -- 19th century.
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Identity (Psychology) -- United States -- History -- 19th century.
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Stigma (Social psychology)
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Social status -- United States -- History -- 19th century.
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Business failures -- United States -- History -- 19th century.
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| ISBN |
067401510X (alk. paper) |
|
9780674015104 (alk. paper) |
| Standard No. |
NLGGC 266154115 |
|
YDXCP 2108656 |
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