Toby Stuart's book is interesting, informative, and filled with excellent examples. I highlighted something in almost every chapter. I learned a ton, but more importantly the book made me think. Anointed explains how individuals and organizations gain, hold on to, and use their social status. The book starts with the power of the anointed, there are acts that give people the power, for example a chief justice of the Supreme Court of the United States swearing in a new president. Once you have been anointed, you have creditability. The title you hold explains to people why your opinions or actions should be valued. When you leave the job, you might lose that creditability. It also works the other way; people can lend their credibility to organizations.

Anointed people also help us sift through all of the information and decisions we are faced with daily. We trust people that are anointed to guide us, because we cannot possibly make all the decisions we make in a day. We may trust publicly recognized investors to explain the value of new companies or inventions. We may not understand the intrinsic value, but we understand that someone who is anointed believes this is a good investment. We also trust the awards that the invention one. This positive attention brings more investors, and the invention becomes a bigger deal. It also works the other way; inventions that can't gain as much traction don't get more attention and struggle to grow.

Dr. Stuart balances the benefits of anointed with the challenges and how it promotes inequality. He provides examples of both. Ella Fitzgerald struggled to land a gig in LA's famous nightclub, but the Marylin Monroe said she would sit in the front row for two weeks if the owner gave Fitzgerald a chance. Monroe lent her credibility to Fitzgerald. He also talks about how anointed people can be isolated and unsure of which relationships are real because of the benefits that others get from being with anointed people. But even the lonely people at the top are often better than the un-anointed people struggling at the bottom Everyone wants to be better than someone else. Finally, he talks about how people have cheated the anointed system throughout history. There is a clear benefit to be anointed, and people will lie and cheat to gain this status and the benefits that come from it.

Throughout the book, I found myself thinking about my life. The times I left a job and my status fell because I no longer had the title anymore. Building my own company and knowing that this time my experience brought credibility to my new business. The idea that once I did a few projects they would speak for themselves and the value my clients bring to my work. Plus a little imposture syndrome we all struggle with and the curated experience I create on LinkedIn to promote my work. Love books that explain why things are the way they are and make me think and this book did.

This fascinating research tracks how society and families boost or ignore individuals and group. Does promotion depend on good work? Good connections? Timing? or ...?

I really enjoyed Stuart/s summaries of the ways those who are "anointed" in one way or another (or in multiple ways) rise through the ranks - or skip them altogether to places of power and influence.

Well worth reading if you resent "privilege" or are curious about what difference your "place in life" makes. What doors can you open, and which ones are opening for you? Which ones will remain shut unless you have leverage or a mentor?

Highly recommended for those in the social sciences, anthropology, or intercultural studies. Going to recommend this one to my students.