Money, Morals, and Manners: The Culture of the French and the American Upper-Middle ClassDrawing on remarkably frank, in-depth interviews with 160 successful men in the United States and France, Michèle Lamont provides a rare and revealing collective portrait of the upper-middle class—the 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 themselves—and their class—from 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 sociologist's craft."—Lewis Coser, Boston College |
Contents
Chapter | 1 |
Chapter | 24 |
Chapter Four | 88 |
Chapter Five | 129 |
Explaining Differences | 150 |
The First | 163 |
Generation and Beyond | 167 |
Chapter Seven | 174 |
Appendix I | 193 |
Appendix II | 205 |
Appendix III | 217 |
Appendix IV | 225 |
Notes | 233 |
| 287 | |
Other editions - View all
Money, Morals, and Manners: The Culture of the French and the American Upper ... Michèle Lamont No preview available - 1994 |
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academic administrator activities Ameri American interviewees American upper-middle class ascribed characteristics attitudes bounda Bourdieu bourgeois bourgeoisie chap Chapter Clermont Clermont-Ferrand Clermontois compared competence concerned context contrast cosmopolitanism cultural boundaries cultural capital cultural specialists defined described differences dimension discussed downwardly mobile economic elite ethnic exclusive explained feel for-profit workers France French and American French interviewees friends grandes écoles groups high culture high status signals honesty Hoosiers identity important income Indianapolis individuals instance intellectual interviews lawyer less lifestyle live managers Max Weber middle class mobility moral boundaries nomic occupational Paris Parisians participants patterns percent political population professional rational choice theory relationship religious repertoires respondents role score self-actualization social and cultural society socio socioeconomic boundaries socioeconomic status South Plainfield structural success suggests symbolic boundaries talked tastes things tion tradition tural United values workplace Yorkers