Heroes, Villains, and Fools: The Changing American Character

This volume by Dr. Orrin E. Klapp presents an incisive social psychological analysis of the changing American character as it is reflected in the heroes we emulate, the villains we condemn, and the fools we laugh at. . . . It is impossible for this short review to do justice to this stimulating and challenging little volume. I urge all social scientists to read this volume and then observe first hand what is happening to American heroes, American society, and American culture.

--Morris G. Caldwell, Social Forces

Klapp's book deals with an area of social life which, because of it lies beyond the institutionalized statuses of formal organization, receives little attention from sociologists. . . . People see social types as examples of heroic, villainous, or foolish behavior and attempt to control their own behavior, and the behavior of others through the use of these evocative labels. The existence of social types performs several functions for society, including helping people to build self-images and contributing to general consensus. By studying commonly-used social types, we can discover the important values of a society. . . . [O]ffer[s] valuable suggestions for study of an important part of society.

--Howard S. Becker, American Sociological Review

[In t]his informative and vivid little volume. . . Professor Klapp has set out to describe the major social types or 'role-models' of our society as revealed by names and descriptions embedded in common speech and writing. . . . This book gives us a stimulating, and often entertaining, excursion into the possible implications of the current language of social types. . . . On the whole. . . this provocative and knowledgeable survey well repays an attentive reading.

--Robin M. Williams, Jr., Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science

This volume by Dr. Orrin E. Klapp presents an incisive social psychological analysis of the changing American character as it is reflected in the heroes we emulate, the villains we condemn, and the fools we laugh at. . . . It is impossible for this short review to do justice to this stimulating and challenging little volume. I urge all social scientists to read this volume and then observe first hand what is happening to American heroes, American society, and American culture.

--Morris G. Caldwell, Social Forces

Klapp's book deals with an area of social life which, because of it lies beyond the institutionalized statuses of formal organization, receives little attention from sociologists. . . . People see social types as examples of heroic, villainous, or foolish behavior and attempt to control their own behavior, and the behavior of others through the use of these evocative labels. The existence of social types performs several functions for society, including helping people to build self-images and contributing to general consensus. By studying commonly-used social types, we can discover the important values of a society. . . . [O]ffer[s] valuable suggestions for study of an important part of society.

--Howard S. Becker, American Sociological Review

[In t]his informative and vivid little volume. . . Professor Klapp has set out to describe the major social types or 'role-models' of our society as revealed by names and descriptions embedded in common speech and writing. . . . This book gives us a stimulating, and often entertaining, excursion into the possible implications of the current language of social types. . . . On the whole. . . this provocative and knowledgeable survey well repays an attentive reading.

--Robin M. Williams, Jr., Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science

-This volume by Dr. Orrin E. Klapp presents an incisive social psychological analysis of the changing American character as it is reflected in the heroes we emulate, the villains we condemn, and the fools we laugh at. . . . It is impossible for this short review to do justice to this stimulating and challenging little volume. I urge all social scientists to read this volume and then observe first hand what is happening to American heroes, American society, and American culture.-

--Morris G. Caldwell, Social Forces

-Klapp's book deals with an area of social life which, because of it lies beyond the institutionalized statuses of formal organization, receives little attention from sociologists. . . . People see social types as examples of heroic, villainous, or foolish behavior and attempt to control their own behavior, and the behavior of others through the use of these evocative labels. The existence of social types performs several functions for society, including helping people to build self-images and contributing to general consensus. By studying commonly-used social types, we can discover the important values of a society. . . . [O]ffer[s] valuable suggestions for study of an important part of society.-

--Howard S. Becker, American Sociological Review

-[In t]his informative and vivid little volume. . . Professor Klapp has set out to describe the major social types or 'role-models' of our society as revealed by names and descriptions embedded in common speech and writing. . . . This book gives us a stimulating, and often entertaining, excursion into the possible implications of the current language of social types. . . . On the whole. . . this provocative and knowledgeable survey well repays an attentive reading.-

--Robin M. Williams, Jr., Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science