All the Gold Stars: Reimagining Ambition and the Ways We Strive

In this mixed outing, journalist Stauffer (An Ordinary Age) examines the roots of ambition. A lifelong overachiever who sought good grades, gold stars, and praise from bosses, Stauffer burned out in her late 20s, she writes, leading her to reassess her ambition and its consequences. Productivity culture, she explains, begins as early as elementary school, when grades and standardized tests teach students their worth is found in external achievements, and children learn that good grades lead to good jobs and good lives, establishing a false link between accomplishments and economic safety. Meanwhile, in the adult world, “hustler” culture is glamorized, but it can lead to overwork and deepen inequality, as not everybody “is racing from the same starting line.” The author calls for a wholesale reimagining of ambition: rather than adopting a go-it-alone attitude, readers should assign greater value to relationships and friendships, as true success can’t be achieved solo. Stauffer is most convincing when she explores the intersection of ambition and injustice, as when she trenchantly critiques the ways student loans and academic tracking systems such as Advanced Placement classes reinforce racial inequalities—though she offers few concrete suggestions for systemic change. Stauffer takes on a fascinating social question, even if the answers remain elusive. (June)