菁英體制就是一場騙局，不論對贏家或輸家都具有毀滅性！ 當菁英成了獨佔社會優勢的新怪物階級，也就啟動了成功的詛咒？！ 菁英體制的理念──成功是來自個人能力與努力，不是世襲！ 但曾經的公平正義如今卻成為假象， 社會菁英壟斷財富與優勢， 貧富不均擴大、中產階級向下沉淪、菁英階層自虐崩潰， 社會對立、敵意一觸即發， 馬科維茨教授深刻地描述菁英體制的陷阱， 在全員崩潰之前，必須啟動自救！ 耶魯大學著名的法學教授丹尼爾．馬科維茨以其革命性的論點抨擊菁英體制虛假的承諾。 「凡努力者皆有機會成功」即將成為神話？在菁英體制演進的同時，社會菁英形成一個全新的壓迫性階層，不僅壟斷了所得、財富與權勢，同時把持了產業、公共榮譽與個人尊嚴。菁英體制將中產階級排除在社經利益之外，同時還號召菁英們集體進行一場維護其階層的毀滅性競賽。 菁英社會的不公對所有人都沒有好處，M型社會中的兩端互相仇視敵對。政治投機分子更利用這股氛圍見縫插針： 「一群擅於煽動民心的政治人物透過指責政府機構的腐敗與攻擊脆弱的外來者，點燃中產階級的怒火。他們承諾，藉由這些攻擊行為，恢復有如神話般的黃金時代。川普總統（已於2021年1月下台）宣稱只要放棄法治與將數以百萬計的非法勞工與家庭趕出國境，就可以「使美國再次偉大」。奈傑．法拉吉（Nigel Farage，英國脫歐黨黨魁）表示只要封閉與歐盟間的邊界，英國就可以重拾獨立與自尊。德國民粹主義分子則是尋求「恢復德國輝煌的千年歷史」，並且指責安格拉•梅克爾（Angela Merkel）准許難民進入是背叛國家的行為。」 馬科維茨教授以20年的時間完成本書，不只帶領大家認清菁英體制的貽害，並提出解方，從「教育」與「工作」著手，期讓社會可以回歸民主的公平正義並兼顧公益，只有全民攜手並進才能擺脫菁英體制的陷阱。 「菁英體制的陷阱」重點介紹： ＊第一部「菁英體制與其不滿」：敘述菁英體制的缺失，它所形成的階級將大多數人排除在外，同時又為少數人帶來傷害。 ＊第二部「菁英體制如何運作」：描述菁英體制的運作是如何進行社會與經濟的操作──在所得、教育與工作等方面。解釋菁英體制的發展方式是如何造成競爭優勢的不合理，以及對中產階與菁英階層帶來傷害。 ＊第三部「新貴族」：揭開菁英體制的面具──顯露其新貴族階級的本質。菁英體制宣稱自己公平博愛，將個人利益與公共利益相結合，以及提倡自由與機會均等。然而在現實中，菁英體制所形成的社經失衡卻背叛了它的原則與價值。 ＊我們該怎麼辦？馬科維茨教授指出通往改革的兩條道路，從教育與工作著手，開創民主平等的新局。 ★專文推薦 〈成功的詛咒：評《菁英體制的陷阱》〉張鐵志╱VERSE創辦人暨總編輯 ★各界推薦 王宏恩╱內華達大學拉斯維加斯分校政治系助理教授 吳惠林╱中華經濟研究院特約研究員 沈榮欽╱加拿大約克大學副教授 林宗弘╱中央研究院社會所研究員 張鐵志╱VERSE 創辦人暨總編輯 萬毓澤╱中山大學社會學系教授 葉浩╱政治大學政治系副教授 劉維公╱東吳大學社會學系副教授 盧郁佳╱作家 藍佩嘉╱臺灣大學社會學系特聘教授 顏擇雅╱作家、出版人 ──齊聲推薦（按姓氏筆畫排列）

"[Cass's] core principle--a culture of respect for work of all kinds--can help close the gap dividing the two Americas...." - William A. Galston, The Brookings Institution

The American worker is in crisis. Wages have stagnated for more than a generation. Reliance on welfare programs has surged. Life expectancy is falling as substance abuse and obesity rates climb.

These woes are not the inevitable result of irresistible global and technological forces. They are the direct consequence of a decades-long economic consensus that prioritized increasing consumption--regardless of the costs to American workers, their families, and their communities. Donald Trump's rise to the presidency focused attention on the depth of the nation's challenges, yet while everyone agrees something must change, the Left's insistence on still more government spending and the Right's faith in still more economic growth are recipes for repeating the mistakes of the past.

In this groundbreaking re-evaluation of American society, economics, and public policy, Oren Cass challenges our basic assumptions about what prosperity means and where it comes from to reveal how we lost our way. The good news is that we can still turn things around--if the nation's proverbial elites are willing to put the American worker's interests first.

Which is more important, pristine air quality, or well-paying jobs that support families? Unfettered access to the cheapest labor in the world, or renewed investment in the employment of Americans? Smoothing the path through college for the best students, or ensuring that every student acquires the skills to succeed in the modern economy? Cutting taxes, expanding the safety net, or adding money to low-wage paychecks?

The renewal of work in America demands new answers to these questions. If we reinforce their vital role, workers supporting strong families and communities can provide the foundation for a thriving, self-sufficient society that offers opportunity to all.

In this ground-breaking book on the children of affluence, a well-known clinical psychologist exposes the epidemic of emotional problems that are disabling America’s privileged youth, thanks, in large part, to normalized, intrusive parenting that stunts the crucial development of the self.In recent years, numerous studies have shown that bright, charming, seemingly confident and socially skilled teenagers from affluent, loving families are experiencing epidemic rates of depression, substance abuse, and anxiety disorders&—rates higher than in any other socioeconomic group of American adolescents. Materialism, pressure to achieve, perfectionism, and disconnection are combining to create a perfect storm that is devastating children of privilege and their parents alike.In this eye-opening, provocative, and essential book, clinical psychologist Madeline Levine explodes one child-rearing myth after another. With empathy and candor, she identifies toxic cultural influences and well-intentioned, but misguided, parenting practices that are detrimental to a child's healthy self-development. Her thoughtful, practical advice provides solutions that will enable parents to help their emotionally troubled "star" child cultivate an authentic sense of self.