Journal Entry 1 by DIGDI on Saturday, October 23, 2004

Pre-numbered label used for registration. 

Journal Entry 2 by carlissa from Miami, Florida USA on Saturday, October 23, 2004

Just received this book in the mail. Will read and report back. I will be starting a bookray when I'm done reading it.

11/10/04: I only got about 3/4 of the way through this book. The book made some very good points, but it was very repetitive.



Ray list:

nwpassage (Canada)
aliaskris29 (Canada) - skipped
ermintrude75 (UK)
csvariation (UK) <-- on its way - may be lost in mail
eatsletters (already has copy)
emoutraspalavra (Brasil) (hasn't replied to email)

 

Journal Entry 3 by nwpassage from Prince George, British Columbia Canada on Friday, November 19, 2004

Book arrived today... barely! Although it was obviously securely packaged, the mail system somehow managed to ravage it anyway. A huge corner of the envelope had been torn off, exposing the book. Book is intact and seems no worse the wear for its rough ride. TBR ASAP.

From the front cover:

"... a wonderful and tremendously important book on the 'ism' that is far more encompassing than racism, sexism or ageism. 'Rankism' must be our prime target from now on in. Viva Fuller!"
-- STUDS TERKEL, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Working

From the back cover:

"Sombodies and Nobodies is a shrewd and compelling look at the crucial but usually unperceived role of rank in all our lives. How easily we put down those we see as subordinate in title or wealth or origin; how silently we cringe at another's assumption of superiority... The abuse of rank [also] corrupts relations between nations, and between the governors and the governed in a democracy. Robert Fuller... makes us understand that equal dignity, whatever one's place in society or the world, is a key to peace and social order."
-- ANTHONY LEWIS, PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING FORMER COLUMNIST FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

IN THIS GROUNDBREAKING BOOK, Robert Fuller takes the analysis of discrimination beyond racism and sexism to reveal a form of injustice that everyone knows, but no one sees: discrimination based on rank, or "rankism". Low rank - signifying weakness, vulnerability, and the absence of power - marks people for abuse in much the same way that race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation have long done.

Somebodies and Nobodies explains our reluctance to confront this phenomenon, and argues that abuse based on power differences is no more defensible than that based on differences in color or gender. It unmasks rankism, demonstrating its pervasiveness and corrosiveness in our personal lives, social institutions and international relations. Illuminating the subtle, often dysfunctional workings of power in all our interactions - whether on the individual, societal, or global level - it dispels the "somebody mystique", presents rankism as the last obstacle to equal opportunity, and offers a vision of a "dignitarian" society.

"How do you change the world? How do you release an idea into the air, an idea so potent that it alters the way we all behave, rewrites laws, makes us see that imbalance, whether personal or geopolitical, stems from one fundamental cause? Understanding what Bob Fuller has seen definitely qualifies as a eureka moment."
-- O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE

"Fuller's passionate and insightful examination of rankism encourages us to think critically about received notions of privilege and power and provides glimpses of an alternative future."
-- THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

ROBERT W. FULLER taught physics at Columbia University in New York, where he co-authored the classic text Mathematics for Classical and Quantum Physics. He later served as president of Oberlin College, and for many years as Board Chair of the nonprofit global corporation Internews. 

Journal Entry 4 by nwpassage from Prince George, British Columbia Canada on Monday, November 22, 2004

Finished last night, and I'm very impressed. I really liked this book! It crystallized a lot of different ideas for me.

This book was not at all what I expected, especially after reading the special Book Talk forum for it. Although it was a little difficult to get started with, I didn't find it "dry" or "boring". Contrary to the complaints of it being "pie in the sky", I admired the author's willingness to address hard questions and objections to his vision, such as political correctness. And as for it being "common sense"... I have found the books that are the most meaningful to me are the ones that take a bunch of stuff that I already know (on some level), and transforms them into a greater knowledge for my higher self to consider anew. The effect of this book on me definitely seemed greater then the sum of its parts.

In short, I'm very, very happy for the opportunity to have read this book. Thanks to both DIGDI and carlissa for making that possible! When I can afford to, I will be buying my own copy of this for my permanent collection, since I know I will want to re-read parts of it in the future.

Edited Sunday, September 25, 2005: My Other Copy 

Journal Entry 5 by nwpassage from Prince George, British Columbia Canada on Monday, November 22, 2004

Poor aliaskris29 has the flu and a lot else going on right now, and so has asked to be skipped at this time. I have secured ermintrude75's address and will have it in the mail to her on Thursday. 

Journal Entry 6 by ermintrude75 from Norwich, Norfolk United Kingdom on Friday, January 07, 2005

Received a couple of days ago... I just kept forgetting to journal - very sorry! I've had a quick flick through and am looking forward to reading it soon. Thanks carlissa and nwpassage. 

Journal Entry 7 by ermintrude75 from Norwich, Norfolk United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 19, 2005

I found myself skim-reading this book after a while - a force of habit with textbook-type volumes, after years of studying! While I agree with the sentiments, I can't help feeling that it is common sense / basic manners to treat others as you would wish to be treated, and I'm not sure that it really advances things to stick a label of "rankism" on behaviour which goes against this. It just seems to be plain rudeness to me, with some examples going as far as bullying. It's sad if we need a new label just to make people (especially those guilty of it?) to take note. The examples of people's experiences of "rankist" behaviour were interesting, but only really helpful in a few cases where they had succeeded in acting against it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for people treating others with respect and dignity, and I believe it would go a long way to reducing many of the ills of this world - I'm just not quite sure we needed this book to do it. Something like Danny Wallace's Join Me, or Random Acts of Kindness, seems to inspire more.

Thanks nonetheless for the chance to read it! I will post it on as soon as I can.