Privilege Lost
Who Leaves the Upper Middle Class and How They Fall

Jessi Streib has written an interesting book that focuses on an oft-ignored, but still relevant topic, the nature of the upper-middle class, and who “drops out”, specifically focused on white American households and individuals. In recent years, we’ve read about the narrative of the “forgotten Amer......more

Conflicted on the rating for this one. It was very thought provoking and the question she poses is interesting. Her attempt at answering this question is also interesting. At the end of the day the quasi academic methodology was confusing to me. My main critique would be: 1. The methodology being put......more

Coming from a middle class family, I very much relate to the analysis of this book. It’s very realistic of how people born into the upper middle class have to compete to preserve their status, ie. being academically responsible as early as elementary school and sacrificing your social life to some e......more

This was a book that really surprised me with how good and interesting it was. While I’m often very envious of those who grew up in the upper middle class, I never really thought about those who fall from it when they get older. Jessi Streib is a sociologist who interviewed upper middle class kids o......more

Really interesting study! Wasn’t familiar with the NSY project, but very cool approach and dataset. Pairs well with Parenting to a Degree by Laura Hamilton.......more