Born Loser: A History of Failure in America

Scott Sandage appeared on the “Diane Rehm Show” to talk about his book Born Loser: A History of Failure in America, published by Harvard University Press. It takes a look at the notion of failure and how it has evolved from simple business losses to a measure of one’s self-worth. Mr. Sandage chronicles the history of failure through the real-life experiences of those who never found success. Among the topics he addressed were the changing definitions of success in American history, societal expectations, moral values, and business culture in the 19th century, and popular perceptions of various historical figures. He also responded to telephone calls from listeners. close