Contrary to belief, status signaling isn't just for the immature or insecure. A fundamental human need is to secure social standing. It drives our behavior, forms our tastes, determines what we buy, and ultimately shapes who we are. In Status and Culture, W. David Marx weaves together history, psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, philosophy, linguistics, semiotics, cultural theory, literary theory, art history, media studies, and neuroscience to reveal for the first time the inner workings of status.