Rating: 
Summary: Idealistic naivete
Review: Actually, one star is too many. Another outburst of banal Fabian drivel. Its constantly amazing to see the effect of too many years spent in the velvet isolation of academia on even previously ( one must assume) acute and analytical minds. Its no wonder the book fizzles out at the end. It has nowhere to go, considering that it started with a substanceless idea.
Rating: 
Summary: Rankism in each of us and the world
Review: As I read Fuller's Somebodies and Nobodies, I realized that I have myself pulled rank and been the victim of rank-pulling. But more importantly, many problems on the world stage today could be address, maybe even solved, by taking a 'rankist' perspective: North Korea's illogical stance against the world, Osama Bin Laden's attack on the US and Bush's response in attacking Iraq - each of these are generated by issues of 'dignity' and 'indignation' as Fuller describes them. Read this book!
Rating:
Summary: Somebodies and Nobodies is worth it's weight in gold
Review: Every now and then I come across an idea that is so obviously correct that I get angry for not having seen it on my own. When the idea is presented in language that is straightforward and accessible, I kick myself again. Such is the content of this book.Like "Man's Search for Meaning" one can immediately see its ideas at work everywhere. And they are helpful ideas. In my family and at work "rankism" is a factor is almost every argument, every negotiation, and every resolution. Needless to say I loved the book. I asked my employees to read it. It's short and chock full of perception.
Rating:
Summary: the great-granddaddy of all the isms
Review: Fuller's book hits a nerve with everyone! Who hasn't been a "nobody" at some time in their life? All of us. Who hasn't felt the sting of that degrading stare or phrase? We all have felt in somewhere along the line. This books pops all those nasty "I'm better than you because..." looks and comments. It is a must read if we are ever going to create a culture of equals like we claimed we wanted when we founded this country.
Rating:
Summary: Read this book.
Review: I bought Somebodies and Nobodies in addition to Collins' Good to Great and am deeply grateful that i found both these books at the same time. Collins showed how "great" companies eliminate rankism from the work environment, but Fuller's book gives even more context and breadth to this issue. This book clearly and powerfully puts into words an underlying issue that takes great courage to expose--that discrimination based on rank is no more justified than descrimination based on race or gender. Throughout this book Fuller shows that he aims to protect others' dignity as he would his own. Many thanks to both these authors for their contributions to my personal and professional life!
Rating:
Summary: Dignity is non-negotiable
Review: I bought Somebodies and Nobodies in addition to Collins' Good to Great and am deeply grateful that i found both these books at the same time. Collins showed how "great" companies eliminate rankism from the work environment, but Fuller's book gives even more context and breadth to this issue. This book clearly and powerfully puts into words an underlying issue that takes great courage to expose--that discrimination based on rank is no more justified than descrimination based on race or gender. Throughout this book Fuller shows that he aims to protect others' dignity as he would his own. Many thanks to both these authors for their contributions to my personal and professional life!
Rating:
Summary: Awakening Brilliance without the syrup.
Review: It is interesting to see how overlooked this subject has been. We all have been on one side or the other of this issue, what is amazing is that the media and general public continue the "somebody" worship so rabidly. When we do that we only encourage the continuation of there being nobodies. Dignity should not be given out based on your income, addresss orany other temporary situation. It really is that simple. All you have to do is to look to 3rd world countries who are used as pawns by every other "somebody" nation. The US is not the only one guilty of this,but we get the lion's share of blame.
The topic of rankism in education is touched upon in Awakening Brilliance, but though a great premise, it has a bit too much Pollyanna in it to be as effective as Fuller's book. This book should be on every coffee table, no matter how expensive or simple, around the world.
Rating: 
Summary: What a relief!! I am ecstatic to know someone sees rankism
Review: Like a needle in a hay stack; that is how I always felt among people in the world; yes, I have been a victim of rankism and I have been very aware of it, but the social consensus is so strong that it is very hard to find somebody that will admit this is going on. Everyone seems to believe that rankism is a normal part of life. I see friends suffering because of it, and yet, they swallow the angst and sadness and go on about their lives making themselves believe that it is somehow their fault whatever is happening. Maybe someday they will get to be an authority and make someone else suffer right? PLEASE EVERYONE, READ THIS BOOK!!
Fuller did a great job in bringing an awareness of rankism, though I felt he did not let himself go completely in his writing. Though he argues that rank itself is not the problem, and that the abuse of rank is the culprit; I believe rank itself causes people to automatically abuse it--rankism. Yes, I agree that rank is important in a society but most people in our society have an ingrained belief that to have high rank automatically equals to have authority over someone, in that authority means that whoever is under you is obligated to do whatever you want. Buy this book,read it, and have your whole family, friends, and rankists in your life read it too.
Rating:
Summary: Thin book
Review: One crticial customer review called it "radical egalitarianism," and another called it "Fabian drivel." I wouldn't go that far. The author is his own best critic. At page 5 (paperback edition) he says, "You may be thinking that rankism is just a new name for bullying." Well, yes.
The thing about racism, sexism, "agism" and religious and class discrimination is that they give context to bullying. "Rankism" lumps them all together and makes them, it seems to me, a little harder to identify and analyze.
The text is repetitious. The book goes on and on about mistreatment of nobodies without ever really getting to the nitty gritty of what causes it or what to do about it (other than has already been shown with other "isms"). The only remedy, it seems, is to be nicer.
I think the text could have been summed up in one newspaper column or a short magazine article, without saying any less.
Rating:
Summary: Somebodies and Nobodies is worth it's weight in gold
Review: Somebodies and Nobodies Overcoming the Abuse of Rank is a must read for everyone. Robert Fuller puts into words what we have all felt and gives great insight on what must be done for our society to remain successful. If you have, or are, a child who dislikes school, an employee who is not getting just treatment, an advisor who wants to better herself, a person who has ever felt belittled (nobodied), or most importantly a teacher who can pass this information on, this is the book for you. This is the book that will lead us into a new, better future. Please take the time to read this book. It will make you a better person and the future brighter for our children.
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