This work investigates the shifting definition of ambition within the American cultural landscape and its role in shaping the lives of prominent historical figures. Joseph Epstein, a seasoned essayist and cultural critic, utilizes a series of biographical sketches to examine how the pursuit of success has evolved from a virtue into a complex, often ambiguous social force. By analyzing the lives of various eminent Americans, he constructs a framework that challenges contemporary perceptions of the American Dream and the psychological costs of high-level achievement.

Critics often note the sharp, observational prose style that characterizes Epstein's writing on American social mores. Scholars and general readers alike frequently cite this text as a thought-provoking examination of the psychological underpinnings of success in the United States.