The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit

The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, by Sloan Wilson, is a novel about the American search for purpose in world dominated by business. Tom and Betsy Rath share a struggle to find contentment in their hectic and material culture while a slew of other characters fight essentially the same battle, but stuggle in it for different reasons. In the end, it is a story of taking responsibility for one's own life. The book is considered, by the author, to be largely autobiographical, and was made into a movie in the 1960s. The movie and book have become hugely popular. The book continues to appear in the references of sociologists to America's discontented businessman.