The Status Game

On Human Life and How to Play It

De: Will Storr

Narrado por: Will Storr

‘Will Storr is one of our best journalists of ideas … The Status Game might be his best yet’ James Marriott, Books of the Year, The Times

What drives our political and moral beliefs? What makes us like some things and dislike others? What shapes how we behave, and misbehave, in groups? What makes you, you?

For centuries, philosophers and scholars have described human behaviour in terms of sex, power and money. In The Status Game, bestselling author Will Storr radically turns this thinking on its head by arguing that it is our irrepressible craving for status that ultimately defines who we are.

From the era of the hunter-gatherer to today, when we exist as workers in the globalised economy and citizens of online worlds, the need for status has always been wired into us. A wealth of research shows that how much of it we possess dramatically affects not only our happiness and wellbeing but also our physical health – and without sufficient status, we become more ill, and live shorter lives. It’s an unconscious obsession that drives the best and worst of us: our innovation, arts and civilisation as well as our murders, wars and genocides. But why is status such an all-consuming prize? What happens if it’s taken away from us? And how can our unquenchable thirst for it explain cults, moral panics, conspiracy theories, the rise of social media and the ‘culture wars’ of today?

On a breathtaking journey through time and culture, The Status Game offers a sweeping rethink of human psychology that will change how you see others – and how you see yourself.

©2021 Will Storr (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Reseñas de la Crítica

‘Will Storr is one of our best journalists of ideas … The Status Game might be his best yet’ James Marriott, Books of the Year, The Times

‘[The Status Game] challenged the way I think about the role of status in my own life and in some ways it made me feel less terrible about some of my unhealthy fixations. If you find yourself needlessly worried about status, it might do the same for you … I can’t stop thinking about it’ Sean Illing, Vox

‘Eloquent, entertaining’ New Statesman

‘Moving … Scholarly … Storr showcases a rare skill – the ability to use technical academic scholarship in solving a real-world problem’ Helen Dale, CapX

‘I haven’t finished reading The Status Game because I’ve only read it once. There's so much in this dazzling book I will be revisiting over and over again’
Daniel Finkelstein, author of Everything in Moderation

‘The Status Game could not be more timely and provides a missing piece for understanding where we are, and how to get out of this mess … I can’t recommend it highly enough’
Greg Lukianoff, co-author with Jonathan Haidt of The Coddling of the American Mind

‘Thought provoking and enlightening – you’ll be discussing The Status Game everywhere you go’ Sara Pascoe

‘Bursting with insights into the hierarchy-crazed hellscape of a world shaped by social media, this book confirms Will Storr’s own status as a master storyteller’
Helen Lewis, author of Difficult Women

‘A radical new theory of human nature … It should – quite appropriately – establish Will Storr as the finest science writer being published today’
David Robson, author of The Intelligence Trap

Thoughtful and reflective

A unique take on why we do the things we do. I’ll definitely be enjoying another lap through this one to make sure it all sinks in.

A new way to think about the Game of Life

a perspective shifting, relevant look at how we organize ourselves and why we do the things we do

Fascinating

What an incredible compilation of research on the human “condition”… so interesting… so well thought out… so compelling… the last 2 chapters of this book will stick with me … hopefully for life

Great Read - An Astronauts View of Humanity!

I throughly enjoyed this book. I felt like this book gave me answers to many questions I’ve had for a long time.

As someone who has been raised in a large Utah based cult, and lost my sister to depression, due to the abusive virtue and dominance games the large Utah based cult played on my sister - this book resonated with me.

I’ve tried to deconstruct what happened, why it happened and how to move forward in the wake of such heartbreak and loss, and I felt like this book gave me a lot of answers I have been seeking.

Since reading I noticed I have shifted into being in an observer in role when it comes to work, politics, religion, social media, and observing the roles people play, the status they are seeking, and why they do the things they do. I’ve even started reading family history going back 5 generations to understand my own family history and the status game they had played to help start this Utah based religion.

It was an incredibly powerful read into understanding myself, my community, events, and lots helpful advice in the last chapter on moving forward.

The rise of German and rise of deplorables to take over

Status game is not a definitive major factor in human behavior, but it definitely is a factor.

It’s a mirror.

This was recommended to me and I enjoyed every second of it. Even the parts that were too true to admit.

Eye opening nature of people in society

I wish I had known about this attribute of humanity a long time ago. Never too late though. I understand now why my enemies exist and why they perceive me as a threat to their imaginary status. LOL people are so silly and so detached from what really matters. I am a better me after becoming aware of this dumb human trait.

Useful book

This book explores how one's biases can be influenced by unconcious seeking of status. It is read out loud by the author himself, which makes it natural to listen to.

Best book I've listened to this year

Narrator? Perfect. Content? Enlightening. A gripping tale of how society and humans work, and it's a great way of making sense of the world. I truly recommend it.

Encouraging and comforting

Good synopsis of social, psychological and economic phenomenon that define humanity and its development. Just like a telescope shows your scale in the context of the univers, this book puts perspective on all daily pains and gains that we often take too seriously.