The Meritocracy Myth

by Stephen J. McNamee

Overview

The Meritocracy Myth challenges the widely held American belief in meritocracy—that people get out of the system what they put into it based on individual merit. The book examines talent, attitude, work ethic, and character as elements of merit and evaluates the effect of nonmerit factors such as family background, social connections, luck, market conditions, unequal educational opportunities, and discrimination.

The fourth edition has been revised and streamlined throughout. It features new material on the current economic and political climate; the reasons behind the increasing levels of inequality in the United States and globally; how economic, social, and cultural factors shaped Donald Trump’s rise to political prominence, and more. The fourth edition includes a new chapter on marriage and mobility that examines how patterns in marriage tend to increase the concentration of wealth and pass on nonmerit advantages to children, furthering trends toward social inequality.

A compelling book on an often-overlooked topic, The Meritocracy Myth is ideal for introducing students to this provocative topic while sparking discussion and reflection.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538103401
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	03/15/2018
Edition description:	Fourth Edition
Pages:	254
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Stephen J. McNamee is professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He wrote previous editions of The Meritocracy Myth with Robert K. Miller, Jr. (1949–2015), who was also a professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. The American Dream: Origins and Prospects Chapter 2. On Being Made of the Right Stuff: The Case for Merit Chapter 3. The Silver Spoon: Inheritance and the Staggered Start Chapter 4. It’s Not What You Know But. . .: Social and Cultural Capital Chapter 5. Making the Grade: Education and Mobility Chapter 6. I Did It My Way: The Decline of Self-Employment and the Ascent of Corporations Chapter 7. The Luck Factor: Being in the Right Place at the Right Time: Chapter 8. Mobility Through Marriage: The Cinderella Effect Chapter 9. An Unlevel Playing Field: Racism, Sexism, and Other Isms Chapter 10. Growing Inequality in the Twenty-First Century: What Can Be Done?

Editorial Reviews

We are bombarded with messages that if you work hard you will succeed. The Meritocracy Myth deftly unpacks these messages, helping readers understand the processes at work that demystify this myth. With a new chapter on marriage and mobility, this edition deepens our understanding of the ways in which the playing field is not even and the system does not necessarily reward ability and talent. Now, more than ever, this book rings true.

--Leslie Hossfeld, Clemson University

American cultural explanations of success and failure--with their outsized emphases on the roles of hard work and smart choices--offer only a partial understanding of people's fortunes. This makes it difficult for Americans to fully understand social problems like inequalities based on race, class, and gender. Stephen McNamee's important book, The Meritocracy Myth, gives students and citizens alike a much deeper and more complete understanding of why some people succeed and some people fail. McNamee expertly explains how individuals are entangled in a web of forces that interact to shape their fortunes--from the impact of families and schools, to larger economic and political forces beyond our immediate environments and control. The fourth edition includes an additional section on marriage and mobility. To solve our most pressing problems, we need informed, engaged, and responsible citizens--this book is essential reading in that pursuit.--Lawrence M. Eppard, Shippensburg University

Balanced, well written, and sharply focused on the vexing question of who gets ahead and why. McNamee challenges anyone who has an opinion on inequality, jarring the contented, encouraging the discouraged, and inspiring the activists. Now in its 4th edition, The Meritocracy Myth remains a necessary and welcome addition to the syllabus of courses on social inequality.--David J. Maume, Professor of Sociology, University of Cincinnati

I don't think there is a competitor that accomplishes what this book does--summarize the sociology of inequality in a clear, interesting, and succinct-yet-thorough fashion. The Meritocracy Myth provides a coherent perspective on the world. Many textbooks are a long mishmash of theories and facts; this one has a compelling message and point of view.--Scott Harris, Saint Louis University

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 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

Over and over again, I find myself choosing The Meritocracy Myth over other good books on US inequality. It meets my students where they are and systematically unravels their delusions. I frequently recommend it to colleagues and friends: to economists for the cultural analysis, to cultural sociologists for the structural critiques, and to activists to sharpen their persuasive powers. Most importantly, no one could read this book without becoming fired up to push our society towards fairness.--Betsy Leondar-Wright, Lasell University

The Meritocracy Myth deconstructs the discourse around the American Dream in a manner that is highly accessible by undergraduate students. Exceptionally well written.--Judi Kessler, Monmouth College

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 socioeconomic class arrangements. The fourth 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 is an accessible text and a captivating subject of study for students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, both undergraduates and graduates. The author provides an excellent introduction to the idea of the American Dream and its tenets as well as the notion of meritocracy as a characteristic and the dominant ideology of US society.--Wendy Brandon, Associate Professor of Education, Rollins College

From the Publisher

Over and over again, I find myself choosing The Meritocracy Myth over other good books on US inequality. It meets my students where they are and systematically unravels their delusions. I frequently recommend it to colleagues and friends: to economists for the cultural analysis, to cultural sociologists for the structural critiques, and to activists to sharpen their persuasive powers. Most importantly, no one could read this book without becoming fired up to push our society towards fairness.

Betsy Leondar-Wright

The Meritocracy Myth is an accessible text and a captivating subject of study for students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, both undergraduates and graduates. The author provides an excellent introduction to the idea of the American Dream and its tenets as well as the notion of meritocracy as a characteristic and the dominant ideology of US society.

Wendy Brandon

I don’t think there is a competitor that accomplishes what this book does—summarize the sociology of inequality in a clear, interesting, and succinct-yet-thorough fashion. The Meritocracy Myth provides a coherent perspective on the world. Many textbooks are a long mishmash of theories and facts; this one has a compelling message and point of view.

Scott Harris

This well-written and researched book on a neglected topic is a must-read. Essential.

Choice Reviews

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Inc. Book News

We are bombarded with messages that if you work hard you will succeed. The Meritocracy Myth deftly unpacks these messages, helping readers understand the processes at work that demystify this myth. With a new chapter on marriage and mobility, this edition deepens our understanding of the ways in which the playing field is not even and the system does not necessarily reward ability and talent. Now, more than ever, this book rings true.

Leslie Hossfeld

American cultural explanations of success and failure—with their outsized emphases on the roles of hard work and smart choices—offer only a partial understanding of people’s fortunes. This makes it difficult for Americans to fully understand social problems like inequalities based on race, class, and gender. Stephen McNamee’s important book, The Meritocracy Myth, gives students and citizens alike a much deeper and more complete understanding of why some people succeed and some people fail. McNamee expertly explains how individuals are entangled in a web of forces that interact to shape their fortunes—from the impact of families and schools, to larger economic and political forces beyond our immediate environments and control. The fourth edition includes an additional section on marriage and mobility. To solve our most pressing problems, we need informed, engaged, and responsible citizens—this book is essential reading in that pursuit.

Lawrence M. Eppard

Balanced, well written, and sharply focused on the vexing question of who gets ahead and why. McNamee challenges anyone who has an opinion on inequality, jarring the contented, encouraging the discouraged, and inspiring the activists. Now in its 4th edition, The Meritocracy Myth remains a necessary and welcome addition to the syllabus of courses on social inequality.

David J. Maume

This well-written and researched book on a neglected topic is a must-read. Essential.

Choice

Over and over again, I find myself choosing The Meritocracy Myth over other good books on US inequality. It meets my students where they are and systematically unravels their delusions. I frequently recommend it to colleagues and friends: to economists for the cultural analysis, to cultural sociologists for the structural critiques, and to activists to sharpen their persuasive powers. Most importantly, no one could read this book without becoming fired up to push our society towards fairness.

Betsy Betsy Leondar-Wright

This well-written and researched book on a neglected topic is a must-read. Essential.

CHOICE