Money Morals and Manners: The Culture of the French and the American Upper-Middle Class (Morality and Society Series)

About this book

Drawing on remarkably frank in-depth interviews with 160 successful men in the United States and France Michle Lamont provides a rare and revealing collective portrait of the upper-middle classthe managers professionals entrepreneurs and experts at the center of power in society. Her book is a subtle textured description of how these men define the values and attitudes they consider essential in separating themselvesand their classfrom everyone else. Money Morals and Manners is an ambitious and sophisticated attempt to illuminate the nature of social class in modern society. For all those who downplay the importance of unequal social groups it will be a revelation. "A powerful cogent study that will provide an elevated basis for debates in the sociology of culture for years to come."David Gartman American Journal of Sociology "A major accomplishment! Combining cultural analysis and comparative approach with a splendid literary style this book significantly broadens the understanding of stratification and inequality. . . . This book will provoke debate inspire research and serve as a model for many years to come."R. Granfield Choice "This is an exceptionally fine piece of work a splendid example of the sociologists craft."Lewis Coser Boston College