Ambition: Secret

by Joseph Epstein

Book Overview

Sketches of eminent Americans and a pointed reconsideration of the ingredients of the American Dream form a fascinating social history. Should be must reading in executive suites as well as college classrooms. --Forbes

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140059865
• ISBN13: 9780140059861
• Release Date: February 1982
• Publisher: Penguin Group
• Length: 312 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.

Customer Reviews

An interesting exploration of a complicated topic

Epstein's Ambition is the rare kind of book that simply kicks around an idea for a few hundred pages rather than beating the reader in accepting a certain interpretation of it. Despite being nearly two decades old, the approach has kept the book current and refreshing. Frankly, I'm not sure I could tell you what Epstein thinks of Ambition beyond the fact that he has, in fact, thought a lot about it and that it is a complicated subject. The book has sub-chapters called "Curiosity Shops" that really are just curious explorations of different situations. One could fill a nice bookshelf with the obscure sources Epstein drags up to discuss and I plan on doing just that. Ambition is best looked at as book to be flipped through and consumed in pieces. Don't struggle too much when it starts to drag and take and absorb what you like. Definitely marvel at the fact that Epstein is a hell of a writer.