No Contest: The Case Against Competition

Kohn, Alfred, and Kohn, Alfie

ISBN 10: 0395393876 / ISBN 13: 9780395393871

Published by Houghton Mifflin, Boston, MA, 1986

About this Item

Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 257 p. Audience: General/trade. book and jacket are near fine, owners name stamp on 1/2 title page, not price clipped 1st edition. Very good in very good dust jacket.

Seller Inventory # Alibris.0007123

Bibliographic Details

• Title: No Contest: The Case Against Competition
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, Boston, MA
• Publication Date: 1986
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0395393876
• ISBN 13: 9780395393871
• Binding: Hard cover
• Edition: First edition.
• Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included

About this title

Synopsis

Arguing that competition is inherently destructive, the author asserts that competitive behavior is culturally induced and counter-productive and causes anxiety, selfishness, self-doubt, and poor communication

Reviews

Contending that competition in all areasschool, family, sports and businessis destructive, and that success so achieved is at the expense of another's failure, Kohn, a correspondent for USA Today, advocates a restructuring of our institutions to replace competition with cooperation. He persuasively demonstrates how the ingrained American myth that competition is the only normal and desirable way of lifefrom Little Leagues to the presidencyis counterproductive, personally and for the national economy, and how psychologically it poisons relationships, fosters anxiety and takes the fun out of work and play. He charges that competition is a learned phenomenon and denies that it builds character and self-esteem. Kohn's measures to encourage cooperation in lieu of competition include promoting noncompetitive games, eliminating scholastic grades and substitution of mutual security for national security.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Kohn, a journalist whose work has appeared in such publications as The Nation and Psychology Today , has written a timely summary of research and commentary by others on the psychology of competitiveness. He seeks to debunk "the rationalizations for competition"that it is inevitable, more productive, more enjoyable, and likely to build character. In closely reasoned argument he shows that, while competition is deeply ingrained, it is also inherently destructive, especially where self-esteem is contingent on winning at the expense of others. The book, which lacks depth only in its discussion of organizational behavior and the incentive for creativity, will provoke considerable discussion. Recommended for general collections and subject collections on social interaction. William Abrams, Portland State Univ. Lib., Ore.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.