Charles Derber argues that there is a general lack of social support in today's America, which causes people to vie hungrily for attention, and he shows how individuals will often employ numerous techniques to turn the course of a conversation toward themselves. Illustrating this "conversational narcissism" with sample dialogues that will seem disturbingly familiar to all readers, this book analyzes the pursuit of attention in conversation - as well as in politics and celebrity culture - and demonstrates the ultimate importance of gender, class, and racial differences in competing for attention. Derber shows how changes in the economy and culture - such as the advent of the Internet - have intensified the rampant individualism and egotism of today. And finally, in a new afterword, the focuses on solutions: how to restructure the economy and culture to humanize ourselves and increase the capacity for community, empathy, and attention-giving.