Our Worst Strength
American Individualism and its Hidden Discontents
by James F. Richardson
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Pub Date May 17 2024 | Archive Date Sep 15 2024
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Description
We are all settlers on our own personal frontiers.
-- Watch book trailer here -- http://bit.ly/3uLEW95
It’s our national way of life. Individualism. America has now taken individualism to its logical extreme like no other society on Earth. And the results are mixed. Radical autonomy without wisdom and lots of social support is a dangerous gift. It can even become a curse of self-destruction.
This book explores how individualism affects the five major domains of American life that comprise 80% of our waking time - work, fun, food, friends, and family.
Using fresh national research on older Americans' life experiences, his training as a cultural anthropologist, and his own awkward life experiences, Dr. Richardson has crafted a first-of-its-kind social history of the late 20th century and what it yielded to us as a nation.
- Part One - How to Make a Hyper-Individualistic Society in Seven Easy Steps
- Part Two - How It Became Awkward at Work
- Part Three - How We Got Lost in the American Fun-house
- Part Four - How We Came To Eat Whatever, Whenever
- Part Five - How We Turned Friends into Entertainment Devices
- Part Six - How We Shriveled the American Family
- Part Seven - The Future of Individualism in America
Dr. Richardson argues that individualism is not an inevitable way of life. We can take our gifts of autonomy and calibrate them to a more community-oriented future. We have to truly understand what we have before we make changes we would regret as a country.
A Note From the Publisher
https://www.socialawarenessinstitute.org
Watch the book trailer!
https://www.socialawarenessinstitute.org
Advance Praise
"An astute examination of loneliness and isolation that sheds light, finds humor, and provides hope." Kirkus Reviews
"Richardson’s a shrewd, witty, sometimes outraged observer who urges readers to approach individualistic impulses more critically." BookLife by Publisher's Weekly
"A moving portrait of the loneliness embedded in everyday American life and a powerful warning to younger generations to course correct." - Jennifer Breheny Wallace, New York Times bestselling author of Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic -- and What We Can Do About It.
"...an invaluable book for understanding the hidden costs of American individualism." - Rob Henderson, USA Today best-selling author of Troubled: A Memoir Foster Care, Family and Social Class
More praise coming by May 1!
Marketing Plan
The author writes a semi-weekly Substack - Homo Imaginari, with a growing international audience over 1,100 readers. He promotes the book and video trailer once a week at the bottom of every essay.
On LinkedIn, the author has a business following of over 12,000 professionals.
Phase 1 - Pre-orders/buzz - Through May 17
- Substack and LinkedIn used to generate Kindle pre-orders
- Request professional reviews
- Request VIP author blurbs
- University of Arizona talk
- Send branded mailers to VIPs
- Build Amazon launch team
Phase 2 - Launch Week
- Push fans to discounted Kindle copies in the first 72 hours
- Ask launch team to review on Amazon
- Begin Substack book tour
Phase 3 - 90 Days
- Continue Substack book tour
- Pitch more VIPs for praise
- Remind readers and followers to leave Amazon reviews
- Pitch podcasts aggressively
Phase 4 - PR Acceleration
- Podcast appearances
- National media outreach (NPR, radio, magazines)
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9798988768012 |
| PRICE | $19.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 434 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Shelly H, Reviewer
I’m an avid reader. I read 100+ books each year. Every few years I come across a book that stands out from the others. This is THAT book. Our Worst Strength, by James F. Richardson offers a penetrating exploration of the complexities surrounding hyper-individualistic societies. With meticulous research and insightful analysis, the book delves into the paradoxical nature of individualism, shedding light on its profound impact on contemporary American society.
Drawing on a rich tapestry of sociological research, cultural anthropological studies, and real-life examples, the author deftly navigates the intricate dynamics at play in our hyper-individualistic culture. Through compelling anecdotes and thought-provoking observations, Richardson reveals the ways in which the relentless pursuit of individualism can paradoxically become our worst strength as a society.
What sets this book apart is its commitment to balance. While acknowledging the benefits of individualism, the author refuses to shy away from its darker implications. By offering a fresh perspective on the complexities of hyper-individualism, the author invites readers to reconsider their assumptions on what is currently considered “normal” in our society, along with the repercussions of this “normal” state of being.
The book itself is a delight to read. Accessible yet intellectually stimulating, the author guides readers through complex ideas without sacrificing depth or clarity.
This isn’t a book you’ll read in one sitting. It isn’t meant to be. Our Worst Strength is a tour de force. Insightful, well-researched, and endlessly fascinating, this book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand American behavior in the twenty-first century.
