Everyone's a Winner

Joel Best is Professor of Sociology at the University of Delaware and the author of Damned Lies and Statistics, More Damned Lies and Statistics, Flavor of the Month, and Stat-Spotting, all from UC Press.

• Acknowledgments 1. Life in an Era of Status Abundance 2. Prize Proliferation 3. Honoring Students 4. Everyday Heroes 5. Ranking and Rating 6. The Significance of Congratulatory Culture Notes References Index

"Clever but never condescending... Best finds something profound in our willingness to treat our world as meaningful. " Publishers Weekly "In this pithy, witty, and wise little book, Best characterizes the college rankings arms race, the new hero, and the self-congratulatory US society... Highly recommended." Choice "This is a very entertaining read." -- Bob Walch Bookloons Reviews "We all want a way of getting the best for ourselves, but also solidity and a firmly grounded moral compass. He [Best] raises the interesting possibility that these ends are at least contradictory, and probably incompatible." -- Les Gofton Times Higher Education "An enjoyable introduction to cultural sociology... Enjoyable and easy to read writing style." -- Tristan Kennedy, Flinders University of South Australia Sociological Research Online "The way that Best explains how to move from an abstract theoretical concept into the realm of observation and measurement is clear, thorough and powerful." -- Amy E. Singer Social Forces