Grift - Revision history

Fractalguy at 13:47, 23 January 2026

2026-01-23T13:47:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:47, 23 January 2026
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	{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fivwdXSQoNU\|\|center\|Quit Your Useless Job with Rutger Bregman\|frame}}		{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fivwdXSQoNU\|\|center\|Quit Your Useless Job with Rutger Bregman\|frame}}

			== Political Grift ==
			When [[politics]] becomes more like a team sport or a [[religion]], it becomes incredibly easy to scam supporters. It's even easier if you also control all of the [[institutions]] designed to prevent and prosecute scams. The rise of the modern [[political]] right has gone hand-in-hand with a growing grift [[economy]] that feeds on the fervent [[emotional]] devotion of its supporters. The [[misinformation]] that drives its [[ideology]] serves as a self-selecting filter, ensuring the audience consists of the most susceptible marks, with the biggest [[wikipedia:Sunk_cost\|sunk-cost fallacy]] keeping them from ever admitting they've been lied to.

	== Grift Begets Grift ==		== Grift Begets Grift ==

Fractalguy at 13:36, 23 December 2025

2025-12-23T13:36:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:36, 23 December 2025
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	Grift erodes [[trust]] in [[institutions]]. It preys upon the most vulnerable. It exacerbates [[economic]] [[injustice]]. [[Legal]] systems and consumer protection agencies need to catch up to modern grifting techniques and prioritize the prosecution of these crimes. [[Culture]] needs to catch up as well, and give people the [[critical thinking]] skills they need to navigate modern [[capitalism]].		Grift erodes [[trust]] in [[institutions]]. It preys upon the most vulnerable. It exacerbates [[economic]] [[injustice]]. [[Legal]] systems and consumer protection agencies need to catch up to modern grifting techniques and prioritize the prosecution of these crimes. [[Culture]] needs to catch up as well, and give people the [[critical thinking]] skills they need to navigate modern [[capitalism]].

			[https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-brain-science-reveals-about-ethical-decline-and-moral-growth/ Ethical Collapse] describes the process by which small moral transgressions lead to bigger and bigger ones. Once you breach the [[Brains\|brain's]] barrier that stops most people from succumbing to [[temptation]], the [[salience]] of [[future]] [[temptation]] becomes harder to resist. You start out by bending the rules and telling yourself it's just a one-time thing, but this often leads to situations where additional [[lying]] or [[cheating]] is needed to cover up the first one. Slowly, the cracks in the dam lead to a burst, and you find yourself in a situation where your options are to keep up the grift, or confess your sins and face [[justice]]. No matter how bad the punishment is, it will not compare to the [[psychological]] [[hell]] you experience when your livelihood depends on harming others.

			[https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-brain-science-reveals-about-ethical-decline-and-moral-growth/ The Slippery Slope of Ethical Collapse—And How Courage Can Reverse It]

	{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD065AplgiU\|\|center\|Why Everything Is A Scam (Except For Scams)\|frame}}		{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD065AplgiU\|\|center\|Why Everything Is A Scam (Except For Scams)\|frame}}

Fractalguy: /* Stop Participating in Bubbles */

2025-11-30T15:51:24Z

Stop Participating in Bubbles

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:51, 30 November 2025
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	Participating in bubble economies is [[Ethics\|unethical]] and needs to be [[taboo]] in order to have an [[economy]] that works to maximize gross national [[happiness]] and not short-term stock [[market]] returns.		Participating in bubble economies is [[Ethics\|unethical]] and needs to be [[taboo]] in order to have an [[economy]] that works to maximize gross national [[happiness]] and not short-term stock [[market]] returns.

			This chart shows the pattern that bubble [[Economy\|economies]] tend to fit.
			[[File:Investment-bubble-diagram.png\|center\|frameless\|600x600px]]

	== Grifty Videos and Podcasts ==		== Grifty Videos and Podcasts ==

Fractalguy: /* Spiritual Grift */

2025-11-30T04:39:34Z

Spiritual Grift

Fractalguy: /* Grift Begets Grift */

2025-09-23T16:48:58Z

Grift Begets Grift

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:48, 23 September 2025
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	{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD065AplgiU\|\|center\|Why Everything Is A Scam (Except For Scams)\|frame}}		{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD065AplgiU\|\|center\|Why Everything Is A Scam (Except For Scams)\|frame}}
			<br>
			{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egj_7Bwl01I\|\|center\|The Art of the Grift - How to get ANYTHING you want\|frame}}

	== Spiritual Grift ==		== Spiritual Grift ==

Fractalguy at 22:43, 13 August 2025

2025-08-13T22:43:26Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:43, 13 August 2025
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	* Using [[political]] [[outrage]] to sell guns, flags, [https://www.npr.org/2022/09/07/1121447226/steve-bannon-fraud-charges fake border walls], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Lindell pillows], supplements, gold coins, etc.		* Using [[political]] [[outrage]] to sell guns, flags, [https://www.npr.org/2022/09/07/1121447226/steve-bannon-fraud-charges fake border walls], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Lindell pillows], supplements, gold coins, etc.

	Bridget Read is one of the ~~[[authors]] who focuses~~ on this ~~topic~~. Her [[book]] is [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217245597-little-bosses-everywhere Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America].		Bridget Read is one of the leading experts focused on this subject. Her [[book]] is [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217245597-little-bosses-everywhere Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America].
	{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcLQh3yDQuo\|\|center\|Everything in America is a Pyramid Scheme Now\|frame}}		{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcLQh3yDQuo\|\|center\|Everything in America is a Pyramid Scheme Now\|frame}}
	<br>		<br>

Fractalguy: /* Flavors of Modern Grift */

2025-08-13T22:42:00Z

Flavors of Modern Grift

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:42, 13 August 2025
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	* Buying out a generic drug manufacturer and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Shkreli increasing the price of life-saving medicine by 100x].		* Buying out a generic drug manufacturer and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Shkreli increasing the price of life-saving medicine by 100x].
	* Using [[political]] [[outrage]] to sell guns, flags, [https://www.npr.org/2022/09/07/1121447226/steve-bannon-fraud-charges fake border walls], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Lindell pillows], supplements, gold coins, etc.		* Using [[political]] [[outrage]] to sell guns, flags, [https://www.npr.org/2022/09/07/1121447226/steve-bannon-fraud-charges fake border walls], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Lindell pillows], supplements, gold coins, etc.

			Bridget Read is one of the [[authors]] who focuses on this topic. Her [[book]] is [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217245597-little-bosses-everywhere Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America].
			{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcLQh3yDQuo\|\|center\|Everything in America is a Pyramid Scheme Now\|frame}}
			<br>
	{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYaA_e0FMW4\|\|center\|Rent Seeking: Taking Without Giving\|frame}}		{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYaA_e0FMW4\|\|center\|Rent Seeking: Taking Without Giving\|frame}}
	<br>		<br>
	{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azIUGQuMfJY\|\|center\|Patent Trolls: What Are These Hideous Creatures?\|frame}}		{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azIUGQuMfJY\|\|center\|Patent Trolls: What Are These Hideous Creatures?\|frame}}
			<br>
			{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJVtgv6Zmq4\|\|center\|Pump and Dump Schemes Explained in One Minute\|frame}}
	<br>		<br>
	{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6MwGeOm8iI\|\|center\|Multilevel Marketing: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver\|frame}}		{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6MwGeOm8iI\|\|center\|Multilevel Marketing: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver\|frame}}
	<br>		<br>
	~~Bridget Read's book is [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217245597-little-bosses-everywhere Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America].~~
	{{#ev:youtube\|https://youtu.be/JLDG9lBgR_Y\|\|center\|Bridget Read on Multilevel Marketing\|frame}}		{{#ev:youtube\|https://youtu.be/JLDG9lBgR_Y\|\|center\|Bridget Read on Multilevel Marketing\|frame}}
	~~<br>~~
	~~{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJVtgv6Zmq4\|\|center\|Pump and Dump Schemes Explained in One Minute\|frame}}~~

	== Making Grift Taboo ==		== Making Grift Taboo ==

Fractalguy: /* Flavors of Modern Grift */

2025-07-16T21:33:30Z

Flavors of Modern Grift

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:33, 16 July 2025
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	<br>		<br>
	{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6MwGeOm8iI\|\|center\|Multilevel Marketing: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver\|frame}}		{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6MwGeOm8iI\|\|center\|Multilevel Marketing: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver\|frame}}
			<br>
			Bridget Read's book is [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217245597-little-bosses-everywhere Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America].
			{{#ev:youtube\|https://youtu.be/JLDG9lBgR_Y\|\|center\|Bridget Read on Multilevel Marketing\|frame}}
	<br>		<br>
	{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJVtgv6Zmq4\|\|center\|Pump and Dump Schemes Explained in One Minute\|frame}}		{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJVtgv6Zmq4\|\|center\|Pump and Dump Schemes Explained in One Minute\|frame}}

Fractalguy at 02:38, 9 May 2025

2025-05-09T02:38:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:38, 9 May 2025
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	[[wikipedia:Rutger_Bregman\|Rutger Bregman's]] [https://www.moralambition.org/ School for Moral Ambition] is an [[Organizations\|organization]] dedicated to encouraging more people to choose [[meaningful]] [[work]] over rent-seeking. It does this in part through the [[promotion]] of [[social norms]] that perceive such [[jobs]] as low-[[status]]. When people roll their eyes and turn to talk to someone else when they find out you work for [[wikipedia:McKinsey_&_Company\|McKinsey]] or [[wikipedia:Goldman_Sachs\|Goldman Sachs]] instead of acting impressed, more people will choose to become engineers, entrepreneurs, [[teachers]], and doctors.		[[wikipedia:Rutger_Bregman\|Rutger Bregman's]] [https://www.moralambition.org/ School for Moral Ambition] is an [[Organizations\|organization]] dedicated to encouraging more people to choose [[meaningful]] [[work]] over rent-seeking. It does this in part through the [[promotion]] of [[social norms]] that perceive such [[jobs]] as low-[[status]]. When people roll their eyes and turn to talk to someone else when they find out you work for [[wikipedia:McKinsey_&_Company\|McKinsey]] or [[wikipedia:Goldman_Sachs\|Goldman Sachs]] instead of acting impressed, more people will choose to become engineers, entrepreneurs, [[teachers]], and doctors.

			{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fivwdXSQoNU\|\|center\|Quit Your Useless Job with Rutger Bregman\|frame}}

	== Grift Begets Grift ==		== Grift Begets Grift ==

Fractalguy: /* Making Grift Taboo */

2025-05-09T02:36:33Z

Making Grift Taboo

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:36, 9 May 2025
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	[[File:Ponzi-scheme-mlm-pyramid-scam-grift.png\|thumb\|Many grifts are pyramid shaped]]		[[File:Ponzi-scheme-mlm-pyramid-scam-grift.png\|thumb\|Many grifts are pyramid shaped]]
	Grift is used in favor of [[wikipedia:Scam\|Scams]] because it also includes [[legal]] but [[ethically]] questionable [[business]] models that permeate modern [[capitalism]].<blockquote>''"That's the [[power]] of the [[good]] con artist: the ability to identify your deepest need and exploit it. It's not about [[honesty]] or [[greed]]; we are all suckers for [[belief]]."'' -[[wikipedia:Maria_Konnikova\|Maria Konnikova]]</blockquote>One of the most important practical lessons of [[ethics]] is recognizing when someone else is being unethical. [[Technology]] has led to a prodigious proliferation of possibilities for pilfer. But, our [[institutions]] of [[moral]] [[education]] have not been keeping up.		Grift is used in favor of [[wikipedia:Scam\|Scams]] because it also includes [[legal]] but [[ethically]] questionable [[business]] models that permeate modern [[capitalism]].<blockquote>''"That's the [[power]] of the [[good]] con artist: the ability to identify your deepest need and exploit it. It's not about [[honesty]] or [[greed]]; we are all suckers for [[belief]]."'' -[[wikipedia:Maria_Konnikova\|Maria Konnikova]]</blockquote>One of the most important practical lessons of [[ethics]] is recognizing when someone else is being [[unethical]]. [[Technology]] has led to a prodigious proliferation of possibilities for pilfer. But, our [[institutions]] of [[moral]] [[education]] have not been keeping up.

	== Flavors of Modern Grift ==		== Flavors of Modern Grift ==
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	== Making Grift Taboo ==		== Making Grift Taboo ==
	[[File:Leval-versus-illegal-bribery-lobbying-special-interest.png\|thumb\|400x400px\|If lobbying can't be banned, a [[taboo]] on accepting their favors with real [[political]] [[consequences]] would still eliminate the practice.]]		[[File:Leval-versus-illegal-bribery-lobbying-special-interest.png\|thumb\|400x400px\|If lobbying can't be banned, a [[taboo]] on accepting their favors with real [[political]] [[consequences]] would still eliminate the practice.]]
	Since the [[legal]] and regulatory systems cannot always intervene to prevent this type of behavior, [[capitalist]] [[culture]] needs to make them [[taboo]]. The rampant grift in our economy will only end when unscrupulous business activities can no longer buy you access to the upper echelons of [[society]]. A [[culture]] of grift-awareness that [[educates]] people on how to recognize scams and unethical business practices can reduce the number of potential marks and make the grift [[life]] less profitable.		Since the [[legal]] and regulatory systems cannot always intervene to prevent this type of behavior, [[capitalist]] [[culture]] needs to make them [[taboo]]. The rampant grift in our economy will only end when unscrupulous business activities can no longer buy you access to the upper echelons of [[society]]. A [[culture]] of grift-awareness that [[educates]] people on how to recognize scams and unethical business [[practices]] can reduce the number of potential marks and make the grift [[life]] less profitable.

	[[Taboos]] will also enable the enforcement of business [[ethics]] within [[organizations]]. It is not possible to implement an unscrupulous business practice without the help of many people. If these people are empowered through the [[incentives]] of [[cultural norms]], it can override the tendency for organizations to discourage dissent.		[[Taboos]] will also enable the enforcement of business [[ethics]] within [[organizations]]. It is not possible to implement an unscrupulous business practice without the help of many people. If these people are empowered through the [[incentives]] of [[cultural norms]], it can override the tendency for organizations to discourage dissent.

			== Money <> Status ==
			The fact that high incomes are able to buy social [[status]] and [[authority]] is an [[incentive]] towards grift, as well as pursuits that pay well but provide little [[meaning]] because they don't actually contribute positively to human [[progress]]. Jobs like wall street traders, [[crypto-bros]], lawyers, and management consultants all get paid very well while never inventing anything. They earn their money by skimming off of the productive efforts of others.

			[[wikipedia:Rutger_Bregman\|Rutger Bregman's]] [https://www.moralambition.org/ School for Moral Ambition] is an [[Organizations\|organization]] dedicated to encouraging more people to choose [[meaningful]] [[work]] over rent-seeking. It does this in part through the [[promotion]] of [[social norms]] that perceive such [[jobs]] as low-[[status]]. When people roll their eyes and turn to talk to someone else when they find out you work for [[wikipedia:McKinsey_&_Company\|McKinsey]] or [[wikipedia:Goldman_Sachs\|Goldman Sachs]] instead of acting impressed, more people will choose to become engineers, entrepreneurs, [[teachers]], and doctors.

	== Grift Begets Grift ==		== Grift Begets Grift ==
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	{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JoNjIfbPV0\|\|center\|Corruption Perceptions Index Explained\|frame}}		{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JoNjIfbPV0\|\|center\|Corruption Perceptions Index Explained\|frame}}
	<br>		<br>
	This is interesting considering it's the biggest [[media]] personality in the world interviewing the richest man in the world about whether blatant meme coin pump-and-dumps should be illegal. The richest man in the world, who has made billions on meme coin pump-and-dump schemes, responds by saying [[wikipedia:Social_Security_(United_States)\|social security]] is the real [[wikipedia:Ponzi_scheme\|Ponzi scheme]]. [[Monetary addiction]] is very real and will undermine your [[morals]] just as fast as a full-blown heroin [[addiction]]. Instead of stealing [[money]] from your grandma's purse to buy junk, you steal [[money]] from every grandma in the country just to add to your dragon hoard.		This is interesting considering it's the biggest [[media]] personality in the world interviewing the richest man in the world about whether blatant [[meme]] coin pump-and-dumps should be [[illegal]]. The richest man in the world, who has made billions on meme coin pump-and-dump schemes, responds by saying [[wikipedia:Social_Security_(United_States)\|social security]] is the real [[wikipedia:Ponzi_scheme\|Ponzi scheme]]. [[Monetary addiction]] is very real and will undermine your [[morals]] just as fast as a full-blown heroin [[addiction]]. Instead of stealing [[money]] from your grandma's purse to buy junk, you steal [[money]] from every grandma in the country just to add to your dragon hoard.
	{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgofcdNCB8A\|\|center\|How is this legal?\|frame}}		{{#ev:youtube\|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgofcdNCB8A\|\|center\|How is this legal?\|frame}}
	<br>		<br>

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:39, 30 November 2025
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	== Flavors of Modern Grift ==		== Flavors of Modern Grift ==
			[[File:Con-artists-always-tap-into-peoples-real-fears.png\|right\|frameless\|300x300px]]
	Examples of modern quasi-[[legal]] grift include:		Examples of modern quasi-[[legal]] grift include:

	* [[Pseudoscientific]] medicines, supplements and [[Nutrition\|fad diets]].		* [[Pseudoscientific]] medicines, supplements and [[Nutrition\|fad diets]].
	* [[wikipedia:Ponzi_scheme\|Ponzi schemes]], [~~https~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/~~Pyramid_scheme Pyramid schemes] and [~~https~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/~~Multi-level_marketing multi-level marketing].		* [[wikipedia:Ponzi_scheme\|Ponzi schemes]], [[wikipedia:Pyramid_scheme\|Pyramid schemes]] and [[wikipedia:Multi-level_marketing\|multi-level marketing]].
	* Corporate [~~https~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/~~Rent-seeking Rent-seeking].		* Corporate [[wikipedia:Rent-seeking\|Rent-seeking]].
	* [~~https~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/~~Timeshare Timeshares].		* [[wikipedia:Timeshare\|Timeshares]].
	* [[wikipedia:Telemarketing_fraud\|Telemarketing]] to the elderly (or anyone).		* [[wikipedia:Telemarketing_fraud\|Telemarketing]] to the elderly (or anyone).
	* [~~https~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/~~Insider_trading Insider Trading] and [[wikipedia:Pump_and_dump\|pump-and-dump schemes]].		* [[wikipedia:Insider_trading\|Insider Trading]] and [[wikipedia:Pump_and_dump\|pump-and-dump schemes]].
	* [[wikipedia:Exit_scam\|Rug pulling]] (especially in [[Crypto-bros\|crypto]]) and other [[wikipedia:Exit_scam\|exit scams]]		* [[wikipedia:Exit_scam\|Rug pulling]] (especially in [[Crypto-bros\|crypto]]) and other [[wikipedia:Exit_scam\|exit scams]]
	* Companies that produce more stock price hype than profitable products ([[wikipedia:Economic_bubble\|bubbles]]).		* Companies that produce more stock price hype than profitable products ([[wikipedia:Economic_bubble\|bubbles]]).
	* Undisclosed fees that significantly add to the actual price.		* Undisclosed fees that significantly add to the actual price.
	* [[wikipedia:Patent_troll\|Patent trolling]].		* [[wikipedia:Patent_troll\|Patent trolling]].
	* [~~https~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/~~Loot_box Loot boxes] and most other in-game purchases.		* [[wikipedia:Loot_box\|Loot boxes]] and most other in-game purchases.
	* App-based [[gambling]]		* App-based [[gambling]]
	* Buying out a generic drug manufacturer and [~~https~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/~~Martin_Shkreli increasing the price of life-saving medicine by 100x].		* Buying out a generic drug manufacturer and [[wikipedia:Martin_Shkreli\|increasing the price of life-saving medicine by 100x]].
	* Using [[political]] [[outrage]] to sell guns, flags, [https://www.npr.org/2022/09/07/1121447226/steve-bannon-fraud-charges fake border walls], [~~https~~:~~//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/~~Mike_Lindell pillows], supplements, gold coins, etc.		* Using [[political]] [[outrage]] to sell guns, flags, [https://www.npr.org/2022/09/07/1121447226/steve-bannon-fraud-charges fake border walls], [[wikipedia:Mike_Lindell\|pillows]], supplements, gold coins, etc.

	Bridget Read is one of the leading experts focused on this subject. Her [[book]] is [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217245597-little-bosses-everywhere Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America].		Bridget Read is one of the leading experts focused on this subject. Her [[book]] is [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217245597-little-bosses-everywhere Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America].