A Nation of Victims: The Decay of the American Character

by Charles J. Sykes

Book Overview

One of the most talked-about books in years, "A Nation of Victims" established Charles Sykes as a persuasive, witty, and controversial commentator on American life and society. The plaint of the victim-- "It's not my fault"-- has become the loudest and most influential voice in America, an instrument of personal and lasting political change. * Fired for consistently showing up late for work, a former school district employee sues, claiming he is a...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312082975
• ISBN13: 9780312082970
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 289 Pages
• Weight: 0.69 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

GREAT ANALYSIS OF THE MODERN AMERICAN PSYCHE

I came across this book six years ago, and I still rank it in the top three books I hve read in the last ten years. Charles Sykes carefully analyzes the modern culture of victimhood and how it has undermined personal responsibility, the work ethic, and true victims of circumstances beyond their control. He carefully analyzes how the introduction of psychotherapy, along with the proliferation of lawyers and lawsuits has rendered America into a whining nation instead of one that works hard for success. Sykes also chronicles how the protestant work ethic at one time considered hardship and troubles as something to deal with. Such troubles make people stronger and more resilient. He does this by not only looking at history, but also at contemporary society. At full speed, this victim mentality now lets the human spirit be beaten by a ubiquitous society that takes away responsibility. Ultimately, this trivializes life. Even worse, we lose the true victims who are truly abused. As Sykes said, "in a society where everyone is a victim, no one is a victim."

A wake up call!

I've been looking for a book in this subject for quite a while, but it seems like everybody is so numb no one sees what really goes on in the american society. This book was a great find!

The Whining Revolution

In an era where politically correct shibboleth dogmatically trumps common sense, Charles Sykes volume is a breadth of fresh air. His well-known but rarely spoken thesis is that a shrill cry of victimization has obliterated personal responsibility and this degrading mantra has developed into a fast growing and far-reaching industry.Unlike other books that limit their scope, Sykes issues a broadside against the entire victimization cult. Harebrained lawsuits, expansive therapeutic whims, diversity nonsense, and sensitivity fads are all targets of his animadversion, and he repeatedly hits bull's eyes. Of the diversity divisiveness, Sykes shows how a silly trend has grown into a suffocating mania. He points out how the craze has stripped Americans of their uniqueness and put them into classifications pitted against each other. Each division must fight to prove how it has been hurt worse than the others have. Women wounded by sexism: blacks blocked by racism: homosexuals hampered by homophophia. And of course a gay black woman would have three strikes in her favor-four if she can claim some real or imagined handicap! While many corporations are actively engaged in the separatist dross, diversity rituals have reached epidemic levels on college campuses. Sykes sites The University of Arizona where "individual style" constitutes minority status and all the special accommodations it affords. The school assures this measure is necessary to prevent discrimination against "nerds and people who dress differently." Many of his examples would be hilarious were it not for the tragedy of their reality. As an avatar of this absurdity, the author describes a woman in Miami whose "illness"--bigotry made it impossible for her to work with black people. Worker's Compensation paid her $ 40,000 to compensate her disability. Let's hope that the Ku Klux Klan is not using this mockery as impetus to plan a class action lawsuit comparable to the smokers' frivolity against tobacco companies.One of the saddest reminders of reality is the book's reference to a suggestion made in 1944 "that traditional American values were the greatest foes of racism because they emphasized equality and liberty---values inherently in contradiction to policies of segregation and exclusion." Wouldn't it be wonderful to hear someone bravely articulate such truthfulness today? Unfortunately the mere implication of such veracity would earn the speaker widespread scorn. Sykes cleverly uses a great deal of humor in presenting this fabricated crisis. At times, it is essential to laugh at such institutionalized foolishness, but as the book thoroughly substantiates the damage of a rampant victimization mindset is massive. Unless an attitude of self-control and personal responsibility comes back in style, America will become a "true victim" of an arguably well-intentioned but deadly dissent into political correctness

Sykes articulate what we all feel

Charles Sykes presents and exhaustive articulation of what is bothering many rational Americans, the victim mentality that is permeating our nation. He is the voice of all of us who work hard, try our best but do not try to blame anyone else for our shortcomings. This book encapsulates what is wrong today with our nation.

Nation of Victims review

A Nation of Victims: The Decay of American Character by Charles Sykes, is utterly awesome. Sykes puts political correctness in its place by providing a true commentary on society's current condition. HEy, the truth hurts. This book is humorous and profound at the same time. If everyone read this book, our society would definately improve!