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In Praise of Nepotism Kindle Edition

by Adam Bellow (Author)

14 customer reviews

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Nepotism is one of those social habits we all claim to deplore in America; it offends our sense of fair play and our pride in living in a meritocracy. But somehow nepotism prevails; we all want to help our own and a quick glance around reveals any number of successful families whose sons and daughters have gone on to accomplish objectively great things, even if they got a little help from their parents.

In this wide-ranging, surprising, and eloquently argued book, Adam Bellow takes a pragmatic and erudite look at the innate human inclination toward nepotism. From ancient Chinese clans to the papal lineages of the Renaissance, to American families like the Gores, Kennedys, and Bushes, Bellow explores how nepotism has produced both positive and negative effects throughout history. As he argues, nepotism practiced badly or haphazardly is an embarrassment to all (including the incompetent beneficiary), but nepotism practiced well can satisfy a deep biological urge to provide for our children and even benefit society as a whole. In Praise of Nepotism is a judicious look at a controversial but timeless subject that has never been explored with such depth or candor, and a fascinating natural history of how families work.

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Length: 576 pages

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Product details

File Size: 981 KB
Print Length: 576 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0385493894
Publisher: Anchor; Reprint edition (July 13, 2004)
Publication Date: July 13, 2004
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B000FC1V1U
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Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,458,740 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #739 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Sociology > Social Theory
- #919 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Politics & Social Sciences > Social Sciences > Customs & Traditions
- #1345 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People > Royalty

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Jason S. Taylor

Not Just Business, It's Personal

December 3, 2009

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

OK, Godfather jokes are cliches but seem apt here. For some reason when people think of "family business" they think of that particular family. Be that as it may This is a book that tells of Nepotism in history and it's effects.

It must be understood that the author has a pretty wide definition of Nepotism. What most people think of, is the misuse of an office to gain privileges for family and friends by corrupt means. The author extends that to any kind of family traditionalism. And says there are good effects as well as bad effects. I can see his point. I have never quite felt the contempt for or indignation at "rich kids" that some have felt for it always seemed a little like blaming people for their ancestry. And I have never felt particularly horrified by the occasional dynastic politician. It seemed to me to kind of humanize politics, and as the alternative would be to have politicians who wanted power or thought they were "what the country needed" perhaps a politician who is running because daddy wants him to isn't so bad as long as he has no institutionalized advantage from it.

As the author points out, a strict meritocracy, should such an impossibility exist, has the danger of creating a ruling class that feels over independent and has little sense of responsibility(this can be corrected, by the way, by instilling esprit de corps in a given meritocracy but perhaps that cannot be institutionalized until it reaches into the family structure in a manner similar to Roman families or Jane Austen style naval families).

The book doesn't just cover government families which is what we would think of, but a wide range of traditional family occupations including, perhaps inevitably, the Mafia. It shows how "Nepotism" rightly understood can produce a drive to succeed just as wrongly understood it can produce corruption.

As is common in such books I liked the historical interest more then "the message"
It's basic point of course is that "nepotism"(as the author defines it) is part of human nature, and it might be better for a society to take advantage of it then to try to destroy it. He does have a point. Maybe it is not just business but it really is personal.

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Mark Howells

America's love/hate relationship with nepotism

August 22, 2003

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

The historical sections which make up the bulk of the book are very good. The author does a fine job of describing the biological imperatives of nepotism, classical nepotism, colonial nepotism, etc. Those chapters detailing the successes and failures of different practitioners of nepotism through the ages are fascinating to read.
The specifically American version of modern nepotism is described by Bellow as being forgiving toward nepotism for providing entrée into social, employment and power positions so long as the beneficiary subsequently proves themselves by merit. Family fumblers are appropriately punished in the author's view and family dynasties which fail the individual/generational meritocracy test do indeed go "from shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations".
The conclusion seemed like a cheap eraser jammed onto the end of an expensive mechanical pencil. It appears to have been cobbled together in a hurry and does not read like carefully reasoned inferences drawn from the historical sections of the book. The conclusion provides prescriptive attitudes regarding nepotism in modern society and this is by far the weakest part of the book.
The irony of writing about nepotism as the son of a famous author is not lost on Bellow. This book will be a boon to nephew-hiring dynasts everywhere.

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Zombiedottie

Enjoyable for a non-academic person

November 27, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I had to buy this book for a class in college but ended up really enjoying it. I can't give you an incredibly detailed analysis because I'm not qualified for that, but as a book on nepotism that was required reading, it held my attention and I took a thing or two away from it.

So if you're in the market for an easier read on the subject, this books is pretty good with a little bit of personality in there.

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October 21, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Delivered on time. Awesome price

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diwata

Nepotism is for the weak and no skills

April 22, 2014

Format: Hardcover

This book is very bad. It has to be written by someone who benefited from nepotism. While I agree that you would want to help your family by giving them a job, it is also the highest insult you can give to them and to your other employees. It means your family members are so weak, no talent nor skills to make it without your help. Your employees deserve better. You want a fine running business? Stay away from nepotism. Nepotism kills productivity and motivation. It breeds resentment, abuse and hostile working environment. Why work hard when the son/daughter/nephew/niece/brothers/sisters will get the positions anyway?

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Quite Brilliant with small flaws

August 19, 2005

Format: Paperback

This very original piece of work describes the history and biological basis of nepotism. This book has been described as a `polemic' which it surely is not, instead it is an interesting, very calmly argued accounting of nepotism through the ages. The riveting begins with a description of the Godfather and nepotism in America, especially the widely held view that George Bush and Al Gore are examples of the `new' American nepotism. The argument proceeds to describe nepotism in non-western societies, such as China, Africa and of course the caste system of India, including biological descriptions of nepotism among animals and nepotism at the tribal and clan level. Then we are given an introduction to western nepotism, the Romans, the Greeks, the Jews, the rise of the Church and Charlemagne's family.

The second section of the book describes nepotism in America from the 1700s to the present. The waves of American immigration are discussed, the separate cultures of North and South, the rise of the Boston Brahmins, the Roosevelt's and the Kennedy's. Given the claim that nepotism has deep roots in America the book desires to discover how it is that America, alone among the nation of the book made the condemnation of nepotism a prime value, a value that has led to success and strength, including the meritocracy.

A very interesting book, part history, part sociology. The only flaw here is that it concentrates on a few examples and individuals, describing these peoples rise without giving context of the grander scheme of nepotism.

Seth J. Frantzman

7 people found this helpful

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