W. David Marx

I am W. David Marx, the Tokyo-based author of Ametora: How Japan Saved American Style. I have a new book called Status and Culture about how the fundamental human desire for social status defines, creates, and changes culture. The book tries to solve what I call the “Grand Mystery of Culture” — why we switch from certain styles to others over time for no apparent reason. In answering that question, I uncover many of the universal principles that guide cultural behavior. If you’re interested in culture — that could be music, art, fashion trends, or even certain beliefs — the book will help organize your thoughts on the topic and teach you something new.