Status and Culture: How Our Desire for Social Rank Creates Taste, Identity, Art, Fashion, and Constant Change

I had trouble with this book. It’s an examination of how trends move through cultures and are used to gain status. But, weirdly, it’s almost too basic.

The author starts with a long-winded explanation of “status” …which will surprise no one. It’s one of those things we all know, and I’m just not sure we needed explained to us.

He then moves on to discuss how possessions and trends move through society. And there are just no big surprises here.

It got tedious. I tried skimming each chapter, then spent some time in the index trying to find something interesting, but I just couldn’t get into it.

I abandoned about two-thirds of the way through. I just wasn’t really learning anything.