I did improv in college and I remember this book and the impact its “status” philosophy had on me. Its a wonderful way of bringing awareness to status dynamics in everyday life, particularly in narcissistic families or other status-conscious settings, where people respect “top” and disrespect “bottom.” But thinking that all human dynamics involve this seems very lonely and sad. Loving relationships should be between equals, there should not —- and need not —- be constant dynamics of dominance and submission. Theres give and take, sure, but to play that out through dominance and submission seems really bleak and lonely, and doesnt reflect my experience of life among people who are not obsessed with status. It would be a mistake for socially anxious people to see it as a prescription, but its a wonderful tool for understanding those toxic and competitive environments we were traumatized in, as well as much of human interaction outside a loving and cooperative context.