Customer Reviews

The Hamlet Syndrome: Overthinkers Who Underachieve

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There were times I had to put this book down because I found descriptions of myself on almost every page. Miller and Goldblatt have beautifully captured the essence of a very specific band of outsiders. The depth of their insight is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

For several chapters, the authors define the symptoms of the Hamlet Syndrome and provide ample support to make their case. They are able to sympathize with their subjects while also gently criticizing them. This balance is maintained right up until the end of the book, where the tone shifts from an intriguing work of sociological scholarship to a preachy invective of righteous indignation.

This is the place where "The Hamlet Syndrome" goes from being timeless to dated. It is obviously a product of the Reagan era. While the former president and his policies are indeed ripe for criticism, the authors' censure comes from out of nowhere. Furthermore, after spending several chapters gracefully tracing the alienation of modern-day Hamlets without taking sides, Miller and Goldblatt turn around and blame society itself for shutting Hamlets out.

It makes for a rather inappropriate ending to what is otherwise a remarkably intuitive and touching book.

I thought it was just me! Nope, it isn't. And all my peculiarities, my endless pontificating (usually about myself), my hyperawareness of the influence of my actions no matter how miniscule (not recycling a receipt), my exhaustive extrapolations of every possible situation to their usually negative terminus, and my hyper criticism of everything, yeah, they're all indicative of the Hamlet Syndrome. Would you rather stay in college forever instead of getting a "real" job? Do you poo-poo people who value material wealth over achieving personal satisfaction and integrity? Does the idea of joining the "rat race" of the mainstream disgust you? Yeah? Then you got it too. I feel so weird now. The authors busted my on my bulls--t. Now I can't leave piles of dirty laundry and dishes around, and spending the day reading does not make me a better person than those studio execs in their SUVs. I'm better than them because, wait, give me a second...

What happened to the middle class counter-culture types who found themselves at the age of 25 or 30 in the mid-1980's with 'no direction home' The authors provide anecdotal evidence via interviews that many such idealistic, articulate young people found themselves in dead end jobs (working in bookstores, office assistants, word processors) because they refused to join the system; and naturally by and large the people interviewed are not very happy. The authors' solution after perhaps too much repetitive analysis is to stay true to your values and find a profession that can provide you a decent living (teaching, social work, etc.) You may not save the world, but you'll save your dignity: so runs the logic. This 'problem' from a 1989 book may seem rather quaint nowadays. However, in the new millenium, such a strategy may be deadly. When smart people decide its best to be peripheral to the 'system,' and develop modest goals in life, it enables power-hungry talentless fanatics roaming our political landscape to thrive. The authors fail to note in their metaphor that the character Hamlet in Shakespeare's play dies, but at least he dies fighting.

The Hamlet Syndrome is a bittersweet confirmation of what many of us have suspected for years. There are, according to the authors, millions of us who are (for the most part, quite happily) isolated. Millions, of course, could be as little as two. But even two million of us would mean that none of us can think of ourselves as "one in a million."

Like A. Whitney Brown said one Saturday Night live (roughly), "It's hard to be an individual in China, a place that has a billion people. If you are a one-in-a-million type of guy in China, that means there are a thousand other guys just like you."

Fortunately, so to speak, the book was not a bestseller. The last thing we need to hear is that we are "common." One of the small comforts of being afflicted with the Hamlet Syndrome is the special feeling of self-respect we derive from being "peculiarly unfit" for the "normal" society.

I would love to hear from any other fans of this book, especially from "A reader from USA , October 6, 1998."

I have purchased at least 30 copies of "The Hamlet Syndrome" throughout the year. It is a thought provoking and well-written book. I constantly have read the book to examine personal Halmet traits as well as to view signs amongst friends and family. I am purchasing a copy for my Ph.d, JD, MBA, Boyfriend because he can't borrow mine.

I first read 'Hamlet Syndrome' just before I graduated from university in the year 2000. It took a lot of work to find the book, but it was an immensely rewarding read. I'm a 20-something now, and re-read the book on occasion, especially now as Reagan has just passed away. Incidentally, the Reagan years of the 80's formed the backdrop of that book.

I can see myself in many pages of the 'Hamlet Syndrome'. It is a truly inspirational read that is a metaphor for my own life. I agree with the authors that there is no 'cure' for this syndrome, no 'happily ever after' ending as it were. This is ironically quite reassuring, as Hamlet's role of an outsider brings fresh perspective and depth of meaning to this confused world we live in.

For myself I can say that reading this book really helped me get off my butt and start taking action to realize my dreams. I can happily say I started a career right after graduation that combines the best of heart and dollar. I've been teaching conversational English and IELTS to adults and teens in Shanghai, China for the past 3 years. Working and living abroad is rewarding from the heart, and the money here is excellent in local terms.

I believe life is cyclical. It is so interesting to read the accounts of Hamlets living under the material 'bliss' of the Reagan era. Right now in Shanghai, the economic boom of this decade parallels the 80's immensely. Despite all the dollar-chasing, I see many miserable people stuck in jobs they can't stand, not to mention gut-wrenching poverty in the midst of it all. Even so, just like the 80's, you can feel pretty isolated by not buying into the materialism.

All things considered, this book was the best I've ever read, and I can't thank the authors enough. Please read it!

This book would help all us overthinkers realize that life is not fair. I would recommend this book to anyone who must reflect on life and what it really all means.

Personality disorders are difficult to cure, and sometimes just difficult to live with. Change is always hard, but understanding is sometimes just nice to have. We have our personality categorized and classified. Miller and Glodblatt have found a new one. They call it the Hamlet Syndrome. Characteristics include an inability to decide between the heart and the dollar. Torn between what they want to do and what they have to do, they often do nothing. "As the years roll by and Hamlets grow tired of making just enough money to survive, their betterness toward themselves and the system increases, leading to frustration, cynicism, and a dramatic loss of self-esteem" (pp. 20-21). Their life script becomes: "To be or not to be."

The authors define five types: 1) I have not yet begun to fight; 2) hippie; 3) perpetual student; 4) artist, and; 5) dropout. Though the authors don't talk about Christians here, I suspect a vast amount of Christians suffer from this syndrome. The church sets them up: they have high idealism, yet have to adjust to a market-oriented world. They usually live by doctrines instead of experience. Yet Hamlets have much tolerance, are innately curious skeptics and free thinkers, and search for meaning in every activity. They are bewildered by too much choice, and usually take the path of least resistance to achieve their goals through inaction.

Miller and Goldblatt describe many of the children of the 1960's. In fact, it appears that they describe themselves, continually mixing Hamlet descriptions and self-descriptions. The authors appear to be typical liberals with criticism of capitalism, animal research, environmentalism, and so forth. But they have something here. The book is well worth reading, though it really doesn't give much hope for Hamlet other than outline a few coping techniques.

Loved, loved, loved it. Perfect for that quirky, weird, out of sorts individual in your life. Timeless piece that scans all ages and socio economic groups. Definitely a keeper in any library.

I first read this book when given to me as a present in the '80's when I was working for employer #31. It's now nearly sixty employers later and I just started re-reading this title the other day. Truth is I'd forgotten how powerful, direct, and insightful the authors were, and remain. I wrote my own book three years about living and working in the real world and knew all along that most of those jobs were because I was facing a situation best described as "your money or life," that in order to "succeed" as society defines, I would have to give up most, if not all, of who I "am" as a person. Had I really "gotten it" the first time I read "The Hamlett Syndrome," well, right, nothing would've changed. Anyone who feels like an outside, who tries, who knows that their best simply is never quite good enough--if that's you, buy this book! If nothing else, you'll find comfort in knowing you are not alone.