The New Class Society: Goodbye American Dream?

The New Class Society examines the transformation of America's social class structure and challenges traditional views about social mobility and the American Dream. The authors present data and analysis showing the emergence of two distinct classes - a privileged "new class" comprising about 20% of the population and a larger "new working class." Through research and statistical evidence, Perrucci and Wysong demonstrate how factors like education, occupation, wealth, and social networks create barriers between these classes. They analyze how institutions including schools, corporations, and government policies work to maintain class divisions and restrict upward mobility. This sociological work investigates the mechanisms that perpetuate inequality while questioning common assumptions about opportunity in American society. The book offers insights into how class structure shapes life chances and social outcomes across generations, contributing to debates about stratification and economic justice in contemporary America.

Readers describe this sociology text as a data-driven analysis of social class in America that challenges common assumptions about mobility and opportunity. Several academic reviewers note its effectiveness as a teaching tool for undergraduate courses. Likes: - Clear presentation of complex socioeconomic data - Thorough documentation and research - Accessible writing style for students - Updated editions reflect current trends Dislikes: - Some find the political stance too left-leaning - A few readers wanted more solutions/recommendations - Statistical density can be overwhelming for non-academic readers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (17 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (13 ratings) Notable reader comment: "Presents compelling evidence that the American Dream is more myth than reality for most people, but does so through careful analysis rather than rhetoric." - Amazon reviewer One sociology professor wrote: "Students respond well to the clear examples and charts, though some struggle with the volume of statistical information."

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The Sum of Small Things: A Theory of the Aspirational Class by Elizabeth Currid-Halkett This economic analysis reveals how cultural capital and inconspicuous consumption create new class distinctions in contemporary America.

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📚 The book's fourth edition (2008) traces how the American Dream became increasingly unattainable for about 80% of Americans since the 1970s. 🎓 Co-author Robert Perrucci served as editor of The American Sociologist and president of the Society for the Study of Social Problems, bringing significant academic authority to the work. 💰 The authors identify a "privileged class" making up about 20% of society, divided between a "credentialed class" (19.5%) and a "super class" (0.5%). 📊 The book uses extensive data to show how factors like education, occupation, and wealth have become increasingly concentrated within families across generations. 🔄 The work introduces the concept of "circulation mobility" - where middle-class children may move up or down slightly in status but rarely break into the highest social class, creating a system of "inherited privilege."