Explores the American dream--the belief that hard work and willpower always produce success--while considering the many for whom the dream fails and the role of culture, gender, systems, relationships, and religions in upholding the myth This book concerns the quest of the spiritual orphan for identity and completeness in modern society. As she did in Kiss Sleeping Beauty Good-bye: Breaking the Spell of Feminine Myths and Models , the author draws upon such diverse sources as myth, fairy tale, theology, and psychology as evidence of our abandonment and as a prescription for the journey to become whole. Her skillful synthesis of many concepts into an interdisciplinary theory of personal and societal development makes this work an important contribution to the literature on gender studies. Current interest in myth, and the success of the earlier book, suggest that this title will be in high demand. Kathryn Hammell Carpenter, Univ. of Illinois, Chicago Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.