Note to the Reader

Chapter 1: A Disorder without a Name
The Personal is Political
Rankism-Mother of “Isms”
Equal in Dignity
The Myth of Meritocracy
Democracy’s Next Step: Overcoming Rankism

Chapter 2: Uses and Abuses of Rank
Why Rank Matters
Legitimate Uses of Rank
Pulling Rank
Three Vignettes
Kicking the Dog
Is Pulling Rank Human Nature?

Chapter 3: The Toll of Rank Abuse
On Personal Relationships
On Productivity
The Intel Example
On Learning
On Leadership
On Spirit

Chapter 4: The Hunger for Recognition
“And you are…?”
Recognition as Identity Food
Recognition Disorders
Somebodies and Nobodies-A Closer Look
Up and Down the Status Ladder
The Ins and Outs of Nobodyland
The Parade of Invisibles

Chapter 5: The Somebody Mystique
The Bricks and Mortar of Consensus
Why We Put Up With Abuses of Power
Nobody, Too
The Genesis of the Somebody Mystique

Chapter 6: Deconstructing the Somebody Mystique
The Function of Heroes
The Inside Story
About Genius
About Celebrity
About Fame
About Success
The Young Are Disenthralled

Chapter 7: The Quest for Dignity
The DNA of Democracy
Race, Gender, Age, … Rank
On Naming Rank-Based Discrimination
Beyond Political Correctness
A Dignitarian Movement
King for a Day

Chapter 8: The Anatomy of Disrespect
The Democratization of Authority
Family: Kid to Person
Health: Patient to Client
Work: Employee to Partner
The Enron Example
Learning: Student to Learner
A Better Game than War: Ciphers to Citizens
National Security in the 21st Century
How to Win Respect and Safeguard Dignity

Chapter 9: The Nobody Revolution: Overcoming Rankism
Nobodies’ Liberation: A Joke or a Movement?
The Nobody Manifesto
The Invisibles Become Visible
Humor, Etiquette, and Golden Rules
Political Realignment
Liberté, Dignité, Égalité, Fraternité

Epilogue

Elegy for Nobodies

Epitaph for Nobodies

Related Readings

Acknowledgements