Overview

A leading organizational theorist takes us deep into the realm of humanity’s most powerful invisible force—social status—and how it shapes everything from who we trust and what we value to which ideas and innovations change the world and who gets credit for their success. Why does an authentic Rembrandt fetch hundreds of millions while a nearly identical painting by his most talented disciple goes for a tiny fraction of that price? What makes a restaurant “hot,” a neighborhood “up-and-coming,” or a technology “the next big thing”? Why do people often choose the same seats in recurrent office meetings? Who is most likely to interrupt someone else mid-sentence? Why do big name lawyers earn so much? Why are health disparities so pronounced? And why, when someone gets a bit ahead in life, does the small advantage so often compound? The answer to all these questions is social status—invisible hierarchies that influence every aspect of our lives, from our health to our personal relationships and careers to how we behave in social and work settings to the tastes and preferences we form. Without it, we’d be lost and paralyzed when faced with even the simplest decisions. But it comes at a steep cost: status works as a powerful amplifier, turning small initial advantages into insurmountable leads. Inequality is baked into its core. Through compelling examples from business, economics, literature, art, fashion, and beyond, Anointed demonstrates how status cascades through society, creating winners and losers in ways that often have little to do with merit. And how new technology offers a glimpse of a more equitable future.

Full Product Details

9781668001875

Table of Contents

Reviews

""An informative and highly engaging exploration of an influential social status dynamic.""—Kirkus ""A riveting read on the power of social status. Toby Stuart is an eminent scholar, and this book shows how the respect we seek for ourselves and bestow on others carries far more weight than we realize.""—Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and Hidden Potential ""A fascinating exploration of status, and how small advantages end up compounding into vast inequalities. Anointed exposes the hidden hierarchies that govern everything from cultural fads to billion-dollar corporate mergers.""—Jonah Berger, bestselling author of Contagious and The Catalyst

""A fascinating exploration of status, and how small advantages end up compounding into vast inequalities. Anointed exposes the hidden hierarchies that govern everything from cultural fads to billion-dollar corporate mergers.""--Jonah Berger, bestselling author of Contagious and The Catalyst

Author Information

Toby E. Stuart is the Leo Helzel distinguished professor of business administration at the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley. He is faculty director of the Berkeley-Haas Entrepreneurship Program and faculty director of the Institute for Business Innovation; and distinguished teaching fellow. He previously has held named professorships at Harvard University, Columbia University, and the University of Chicago. Stuart is the cofounder of a tech company and on multiple corporate boards. He has published dozens of academic papers on social status and social network dynamics. He was the long-time department editor for entrepreneurship and innovation at Management Science, and has been an editor at many prominent journals, including American Journal of Sociology and Administrative Science Quarterly.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available