First published 2012
In a world where the most intimate aspects of life have become commodities, "The Outsourced Self" is a chilling exposé of how the market's invisible hand has crept into our most private realms. Acclaimed sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild takes us on a journey through a landscape where love, friendship, and even grief have been transformed into packaged expertise, sold back to Americans desperate to preserve the personal. From dating coaches to surrogate farms, Hochschild's incisive reporting lays bare the threat this poses to the very foundation of our humanity. Yet, even as she sounds the alarm, Hochschild's empathy shines through, reminding us of the deep need for connection that drives us all.
Genres: business, sociology, social-issues, non-fiction, 21st-century, academic
Vibes: chilling, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism, social-commentary
Setting: United States
Period: 21st-century
320 pages · Paperback · Picador