Amazon Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review to be helpful:
Mutual co-operation instead of rankist exploitation, February 1, 2009
By Jyriii
You will recognize a problem more easily once you have a name for it. And "rankism" is such a name for a major problem of today! It's easy to see how the discrimination according to career status is already so thoroughly baked into modern society that it governs everything! -Our society is BASED on rankist exploitation instead of mutual co-operation.
It should be safe for anyone, anytime, in any position to question the rightful role of the rank. A fundamental characteristic of a healthy work culture is that everyone, regardless of rank, exhibits a co-operational attitude. A rank should be earned again from time to time in a fair contest, in which everyone is equal. And the illegitimate uses of rank should be avoided. The opinions of all should be weighed.
This is a book about an important concept in itself, but I was left feeling like it was too simplistic, and lacking any deeper philosophical views on things... Because personally, I think the whole compulsory schooling system as it is should be abolished in order that "dignity for all" could become possible. -Also, be aware that some of the same stories from the author's earlier book called "All Rise: Somebodies, Nobodies, and the Politics of Dignity" are present in this book too.
3 of 4 people found the following review to be helpful:
Revising core cultural beliefs, August 11, 2008
By R. J. Miller
Authors Robert Fuller and Pamela Gerloff propose an audacious goal: "to outline a pathway into a bold new world." They maintain that the failure to afford dignity to all persons is at the root of much of the unnecessary suffering, injustice and violence in the world, and that the simple (though elusive) intention to treat each individual with respect could provide societies with a fundamentally different moral and ethical compass. A "dignitarian" society, or a "culture of dignity," would fully honor the founding principles of American democracy and universal principles of human rights. According to Fuller and Gerloff, modern democracies have advanced toward these principles by identifying and addressing social realms where injustice has existed, and now, the simple conceptual tool of "rankism" enables us to identify, and begin to root out, the widespread abuse of power arising from social status and position. They suggest that "rankism" may well be the "overarching ism" that fuels all the specific variants of inequality, discrimination, and oppression.
The book is written in a deceptively simple style, to demonstrate that individuals can begin to recognize the many subtle ways that rankism operates in common, everyday behavior. The book does not propose a sophisticated political, ideological, or economic analysis because the authors suggest that the shift from rankism to dignitarian society is more basic, more elemental, than those layers of social reality. In this sense, the book's analysis offers a practical variation on Riane Eisler's concept of "dominator" vs. "partnership" cultural orientations--broad cultural templates that underpin a wide range of institutions, beliefs, and mundane, taken-for-granted habits.
Dignity for All does not dwell on this or other theories, but focuses on specific strategies for rooting out the dominator (rankist) mindset wherever it might be found. It is a handbook for a subtle revolution in values that could lead to a more collaborative, egalitarian society.
2 of 3 people found the following review to be helpful:
Practical Approaches for Creating a Better Society, July 29, 2008
By John D. Mccann
This new book by Robert Fuller and Pamela Gerloff builds on the seminal work of Dr. Fuller on the subject of rankism. (See Somebodies and Nobodies: Overcoming the Abuse of Rank and All Rise: Somebodies, Nobodies, and the Politics of Dignity (BK Currents (Hardcover)) Those earlier works identified and defined the concept of rankism, which is "the abuse of the power attached to rank". More than just another "ism", rankism in fact encompasses all the isms (sexism, racicm, etc) because they all deal with someone abusing their power to get what they want. By identifying the problem, the authors give us the ability to understand and deal with it.
This new book provides practical and useable advise on how to recognize rankism in others (easy) and in ourselves (much harder). It also provides gives tools to raise the issue in a way that is respectful of all parties. One of the hardest things to do is to respond to someone who is treating us without dignity in a way that demonstrates dignity for the offender. Yet, that is the only way to break the cycle of rankism.
Told largely through the use of stories and examples, the book is an easy and enlightening read.
Both as an overview of the subject of rankism, and as a treatise on how to address the issue, this book is highly recommended.
1 of 2 people found the following review to be helpful:
Add this book to your reading list!, August 27, 2008
By M. Peluso
At some point during our education or careers, we've all experienced the effects of rankism--the abuse of rank by someone in a position considered "higher" or "more important" than our own. Until now, however, we haven't had the terminology or framework for discussing its effects on our lives and on society as a whole. In this enlightening little book, the authors provide a comprehensive description of a topic that's particularly relevant today. Gerloff and Fuller have accomplished the difficult task of making a complex topic accessible and highly readable. By identifying the serious, negative effects that rankism has had throughout history and some of the ways that we ourselves may have participated in rankism in some capacity, this book will serve to open the eyes of all readers. Most impressive, however, is that the authors do not focus solely on the problem, but also provide a vision of a society that is kinder, gentler, and more respectful of all its people. Using personal examples and stories, the book clearly illustrates the detrimental effects of rankism on society while also offering practical strategies that we as individuals can take to overcome rankism and create a society based on dignity and respect.
0 of 1 people found the following review to be helpful:
Excellent Off-Site, Gift, or Personal Improvement Book, June 9, 2009
By Robert D. Steele
I had previously read and reviewed All Rise: Somebodies, Nobodies, and the Politics of Dignity (BK Currents (Hardcover)) and as much as I liked that first book, this is the one I recommend as a broad use item. It is ideal for any company or organizational off-set as a pre-arrival required reading, as a gift (including as an anonymous gift to the rankism-challenged, and as a personal easy to read book.
I myself have been terribly guilty of rankism, primarily in the customer service arena, where mediocre service has roused my fury and I have been less than stellar at realizing that it's not the person, it's the system, and so many others are responsible for the mediocrity that I am a fool for taking it out on the one person I can see.
Where this book renders a very useful service is in the naming of the anti-thesis to dignity, i.e. rankism. This is not a book about dignity, but rather about rankism in all its forms and how that robs all of us of dignity, but especially those least able to handle the inequalities including (new term for me) micro-inequalities--the subtle pecking to death by ducks, e.g. being interrupted constantly, not noticed, etc.
I have been focusing on integrity recently, on truth, and I confess that I have not given enough thought to the tact side of the equation. This book is persuasive in saying that truth by itself is not enough, truth must be accompanied by tact, or as I have it in my notes, "Integrity plus dignity = informed democracy."
There are 24 sidebars, each a little gem, the key points are summarized at the end of each chapter, and I believe this book finally meets the need for a Citizen 101 Guide.
Among my fly-leaf notes:
1. Lack of dignity is a driver toward violence and unreason. This joins a mantra from elsewhere, that anger and violence generally stem from a feeling of being treated unfairly.
2. Dignity should be the first human right.
3. Costs of not providing dignity are enormous. The following is quoted from pages 3-4:
"The consequences of violating others' dignity are evident in widespread social problems such as high rates of school dropout, prison incarceration, violent crime, depression, suicide, divorce, and despair; in the business world in reduced creativity, lower productivity, or disloyalty to the organization. Even health and longevity areaffected."
While the above is grossly simplistic, it is important and merits note.
4. Rnakism is the "root" "ism" e.g. for sexism, racism, etc, the one that fosters all other isms by artificially elevating one person over another.
5. Dignitarian intervention breaks the rankism cycle. John Steiner intervened with me one time in Denver, and I have to say that without having read this book, I did not quite see his point. Those intervening should anticipate not being understood the first several times.
6. HUMILITY in leaders signifies an open mind willing to listen to everybody. I have just finished giving up on the leaders of the U.S. intelligence community as they live in "closed circles" and are like Henry Kissinger when David Elsberg counseled him, becoming like morons in that they rely too much on narrow secrets and allow their "closed circle" to shut out all those who actually have ground truth real world experience. See my review of Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers
7. The vignettes are not to be skipped. As impatient a reader as I am, I realized after a few of them that they comprise in the aggregate a 360 degree repetition of the basic lesson in many more naunced ways.
8. Secrecy and silencing are part of the Borg as I have tekn to calling it, the "establishment" in which neither Bush nor Obama really controls anything, the "system" goes on with its Wall Street ubber alles and two parties doing the bidding of special interests. Snobbery (think Council on Foreign Relations), bullying (think clearances removed from whistle-blowers) and blackballing (think CIA never hiring anyone critical of their nonsense) are all part of the Borg.
9. The book ends with comments on truth and reconciliation, of which I am a huge fan, believing the USA needs at least two--one for what has been done to We the People including our Native Americans and people of color, another for what has been done around the world "in our name" and at our expenses. Appreciative inquiry is discussed, as well as shared governances and shared evaluation.
Bottom line: this may well be the one book and the one idea that We the People cannot do without.
I also recommend:
The Tao of Democracy: Using Co-Intelligence to Create a World That Works for All
Society's Breakthrough!: Releasing Essential Wisdom and Virtue in All the People
The New Golden Rule: Community And Morality In A Democratic Society
Communitas: Means of Livelihood and Ways of Life
Orbiting the Giant Hairball: A Corporate Fool's Guide to Surviving with Grace
We the Purple: Faith, Politics, and the Independent Voter
Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Social Movement in History Is Restoring Grace, Justice, and Beauty to the World
Collective Intelligence: Creating a Prosperous World at Peace
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