Anointed

The Extraordinary Effects of Social Status in a Winner-Take-Most World

By: Toby Stuart

Narrated by: Michael David Axtell

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.

Critic reviews

"A UC Berkeley professor offers a lucid overview of status—its ubiquity in society, how we acquire it, and the ways it influences how people and their achievements are valued. Performing with exceptional vocal personality and a beautiful tonal range, Michael David Axtell gives this audiobook richness and clarity. His narration fits well with the author’s colorful writing about how status impacts the judgments we make about almost everything. He says that people don’t like uncertainty, so they often make sense of the unfamiliar by looking for signs of a category, affiliation, or pedigree. Stuart’s accessible language, along with his diligent scholarship, makes this guide entertaining. Listeners will become more aware of how our judgments are influenced by the glow of status."

Great examples, entertaining writing style

I enjoyed the vast and diverse examples used to support the narrative and the entertaining writing style.

Looking at how many unique situations give some people more advantages in succeeding.

Pulling yourself up by your bootstraps rarely works. The country you were born in and the family you were born into give you a major boost to succeed or drag you down. Sometimes it is plain good luck or bad luck or the encouragement of an adult during your formative years. Being born into a loving family, and an educated family can anoint you and make it easier for you to succeed.