SKU: 28754518122

Fool Proof: How Fear of Playing the Sucker Shapes Our Selves and the Social Order―and What We Can Do About It (Hardcover)

Sale price$18.00 Regular price$20.00
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $5.00 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 19 - Jul 24

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

Fool Proof: How Fear of Playing the Sucker Shapes Our Selves and the Social Order―and What We Can Do About It (Hardcover)The fear of playing the fool is a universal psychological phenomenon and an underappreciated driver of human behavior; in the spirit of Malcolm Gladwells Blink, Dan Arielys Predictably Irrational, and Susan Cains Quiet, Fool Proof tracks the implications of the sucker construct from personal choices to cultural conflict, ultimately charting an unexpected and empowering path forward. In the American moral vernacular, we have a whole thesaurus for

The fear of playing the fool is a universal psychological phenomenon and an underappreciated driver of human behavior; in the spirit of Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink, Dan Ariely’s Predictably Irrational, and Susan Cain’s Quiet, Fool Proof tracks the implications of the sucker construct from personal choices to cultural conflict, ultimately charting an unexpected and empowering path forward.

In the American moral vernacular, we have a whole thesaurus for victims of exploitation. They are suckers (born every minute), fools (not suffered gladly), dupes, marks, chumps, pawns, and losers. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. Cultural stories about suckers abound too: the Trojan Horse, the Boy Who Cried Wolf, the Emperor’s New Clothes, even Hansel and Gretel. If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you. Don’t go out with him; he only wants one thing. The fear of playing the fool is not just a descriptive fact; it is a prescriptive theme: Don’t let that be you.

Most of us are constantly navigating two sets of imperatives: how to be successful and how to be good. The fear of being suckered whispers that you can’t do both, operating as a quiet caution against leaps of faith and acts of altruism. University of Pennsylvania law professor and moral psychologist Tess Wilkinson-Ryan brings evidence from studies in psychology, sociology, and economics to show how the sucker construct shapes, and distorts, human decision-making.

Fool Proof offers the first in-depth analysis of the sucker’s game as implicit worldview, drawing evidence everywhere from grocery shopping to international trade deals, from road rage to #MeToo. Offering real-world puzzles and stories, Wilkinson-Ryan explores what kinds of hustles feel like scams and which ones feel like business as usual, who gets pegged as suckers and who gets lauded as saints. She takes deep dives into areas like the psychology of stereotyping, the history of ethnic slurs, and the economics of the family—and shows how the threat of being suckered is deployed to perpetuate social and economic hierarchies.

Ultimately, Fool Proof argues that the goal is not so much to spot the con as to renegotiate its meaning. The fear of being suckered can be weaponized to disrupt cooperation and trust, but it can also be defused and reframed to make space for moral agency and social progress. Facing the fear of being suckered head-on means deciding for ourselves what risks to take, what relationships to invest in, when to share, and when to protest—drafting a new template for how to live with integrity in a sucker’s world.

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 28754518122

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.1 ★★★★★
Based on 23 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
J
Verified Purchase
jirarmel
Birmingham, US
★★★★★ 5
True to size and very comfortable
Size: 13, Color: Black/Dark Smoke Grey
These are lightweight, running shoes
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2026
A
Verified Purchase
Aaron
Boise, US
★★★★★ 5
good shoes
Size: 8, Color: Black/White/Iron Grey
better than what i estimated. it took a day for θem 2 sink in, letting me feel full eφect.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2026
P
Verified Purchase
personas de 40 aÑos en adelante
Draper, US
★★★★★ 4
son comodos
Size: 9, Color: Black/White/Iron Grey
muy satisfecha con esta compra,
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2026
C
Verified Purchase
christi
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Awesome Shoes!
Size: 11.5, Color: White/Team Red
Bought these for my brother for Christmas and he LOVES them and wears them all the time! I personally love the color and design and I love new balance in general. Awesome and durable shoe for sure!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2026
A
Verified Purchase
Anthony
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
Look great
Size: 10, Color: White/Navy
Comfortable and look great
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2026

recommand products