Something for nothing
Subtitle: luck in America
By: Jackson Lears
Publisher: Viking
Published: 2003
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 392
ISBN-13: 9780670031733
Subjects: Moral conditions; History; Public opinion; Fortune; Gambling
Description: Offers a thoroughly researched discussion of how luck, chance, and gambling have shaped and defined the national character of America, even while conventional wisdom has dictated that perseverance, industry, discipline, and other aspects of the Protestant work ethic are what make America great.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 335-365) and index.
Table of contents: title: Gambling for Grace; title: The dance of divination; title: The amusements of the alehouse; title: Confidence games; title: The waning of providence; title: The incomplete taming of chance; title: The uncertain triumph of management; title: The persistent allure of accident.