The American dream is built on the idea that Americans end up roughly where we deserve to be in our working lives based on our efforts and abilities; in other words, the United States is supposed to be a meritocracy. When Americans think and talk about our lives, we grapple with this idea, asking how a person got to where he or she is and whether he or she earned it. In What We Mean by the American Dream, Doron Taussig tries to find out how we answer those questions.

What We Mean by the American Dream investigates how we think about whether an individual deserves an opportunity, job, termination, paycheck, or fortune. Taussig looks into the fabric of American life to explore how various people, including dairy farmers, police officers, dancers, teachers, computer technicians, students, store clerks, the unemployed, homemakers, and even drug dealers got to where they are today and whether they earned it or not.

Taussig's frank assessment of the state of the US workforce and its dreams allows him to truly and meaningfully ask the question that underpins so many of our political debates and personal frustrations: Did you earn it? By doing so, he sheds new light on what we mean by and how we can deliver on the American Dream of today.

The book is published by Cornell University Press. The audiobook is published by University Press Audiobooks.

"Exceptionally engaging…a fun and incredibly interesting read." (Christopher R. Martin, author of No Longer Newsworthy)

"Lively and fascinating book..." (Jo Littler, author of Against Meritocracy)

Witty and incisive writing...an empathic window into American life." (Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, author of Race for Profit)