Sam Friedman
@samfriedman.bsky.social
Professor and Head of Department at LSE Sociology, Co-Editor British Journal of Sociology. Research: class, culture, elites, social mobility. Books: Born to Rule, The Class Ceiling, Comedy and Distinction
Pinned
Sam Friedman
@samfriedman.bsky.social
· Nov 25
The best books of 2024, as chosen by The Economist
Readers will never think the same way again about games, horses and spies
www.economist.com
Born to Rule on The Economist’s Top 10 Politics and Current Affairs books of the year 🎉🎉🎉🎉
www.economist.com/culture/2024...
www.economist.com/culture/2024...
Reposted by Sam Friedman
1. Congrats on the NYT coverage!
2. Anyone who wants to know more about class-origin pay gaps in top jobs (higher professional and managerial occupations)!in the US can see me & Sam Friedman's paper in Social Forces - overview & links at daniellaurison.com/the-class-ce...
2. Anyone who wants to know more about class-origin pay gaps in top jobs (higher professional and managerial occupations)!in the US can see me & Sam Friedman's paper in Social Forces - overview & links at daniellaurison.com/the-class-ce...
The Class Ceiling in the United States - now out in Social Forces - DANIEL LAURISON
Sam Friedman & I just published an article on The Class Ceiling in the United States in Social Forces. You can access the article at Social Forces here and the preprint if you need it is here. The key...
daniellaurison.com
September 19, 2026 at 12:22 AM
1. Congrats on the NYT coverage!
2. Anyone who wants to know more about class-origin pay gaps in top jobs (higher professional and managerial occupations)!in the US can see me & Sam Friedman's paper in Social Forces - overview & links at daniellaurison.com/the-class-ce...
2. Anyone who wants to know more about class-origin pay gaps in top jobs (higher professional and managerial occupations)!in the US can see me & Sam Friedman's paper in Social Forces - overview & links at daniellaurison.com/the-class-ce...
Reposted by Sam Friedman
The first rule of privilege is that you get to be unaware of your privilege! It’s so nice and comfy to believe you’re just really good at stuff and earned it all by your diligent labour and inherent virtue
This, from William Cash, son of Sir Bill Cash, has allowed me to start the working day with a huge smile on my face. Just glorious. Bravo!
September 4, 2026 at 8:11 AM
The first rule of privilege is that you get to be unaware of your privilege! It’s so nice and comfy to believe you’re just really good at stuff and earned it all by your diligent labour and inherent virtue
Reposted by Sam Friedman
The Senior Fundraising and Grants Manager will lead the development and delivery of a fundraising strategy that supports Runnymede’s long-term sustainability and ambitions for impact 👇
www.runnymedetrust.org/careers/seni...
www.runnymedetrust.org/careers/seni...
Senior Fundraising and Grants Manager
Runnymede is the UK's leading independent race equality think tank.
www.runnymedetrust.org
September 4, 2026 at 8:31 AM
The Senior Fundraising and Grants Manager will lead the development and delivery of a fundraising strategy that supports Runnymede’s long-term sustainability and ambitions for impact 👇
www.runnymedetrust.org/careers/seni...
www.runnymedetrust.org/careers/seni...
Reposted by Sam Friedman
The People and Culture Manager will lead and develop our people function, ensuring colleagues have a positive, consistent and inclusive experience throughout their time at Runnymede 👇
www.runnymedetrust.org/careers/seni...
www.runnymedetrust.org/careers/seni...
Senior Fundraising and Grants Manager
Runnymede is the UK's leading independent race equality think tank.
www.runnymedetrust.org
September 4, 2026 at 8:31 AM
The People and Culture Manager will lead and develop our people function, ensuring colleagues have a positive, consistent and inclusive experience throughout their time at Runnymede 👇
www.runnymedetrust.org/careers/seni...
www.runnymedetrust.org/careers/seni...
Reposted by Sam Friedman
Why do so many influential people emphasise humble beginnings while downplaying privilege?
@samfriedman.bsky.social and @aaronreeves.bsky.social explore why elites often present themselves as "ordinary" and what this reveals about class, status and legitimacy in Britain.
buff.ly/rHF2j25
@samfriedman.bsky.social and @aaronreeves.bsky.social explore why elites often present themselves as "ordinary" and what this reveals about class, status and legitimacy in Britain.
buff.ly/rHF2j25
Why do elites pretend to be common people? | LSE British Politics
Presenting themselves as common people has become a bit of trend among UK elites and politicians. This strategy is surprisingly effective, but with limits.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
September 3, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Why do so many influential people emphasise humble beginnings while downplaying privilege?
@samfriedman.bsky.social and @aaronreeves.bsky.social explore why elites often present themselves as "ordinary" and what this reveals about class, status and legitimacy in Britain.
buff.ly/rHF2j25
@samfriedman.bsky.social and @aaronreeves.bsky.social explore why elites often present themselves as "ordinary" and what this reveals about class, status and legitimacy in Britain.
buff.ly/rHF2j25
Reposted by Sam Friedman
Performing ordinariness & presenting as “common people like you” has become a trend among UK elites & politicians.
@aaronreeves.bsky.social & @samfriedman.bsky.social @lsesociology.bsky.social look at the surprising effectiveness of this strategy, & its limitations @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social
@aaronreeves.bsky.social & @samfriedman.bsky.social @lsesociology.bsky.social look at the surprising effectiveness of this strategy, & its limitations @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social
Why do elites pretend to be common people? | LSE British Politics
Presenting themselves as common people has become a bit of trend among UK elites and politicians. This strategy is surprisingly effective, but with limits.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
September 2, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Performing ordinariness & presenting as “common people like you” has become a trend among UK elites & politicians.
@aaronreeves.bsky.social & @samfriedman.bsky.social @lsesociology.bsky.social look at the surprising effectiveness of this strategy, & its limitations @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social
@aaronreeves.bsky.social & @samfriedman.bsky.social @lsesociology.bsky.social look at the surprising effectiveness of this strategy, & its limitations @lsepoliticsblog.bsky.social
Reposted by Sam Friedman
New paper w @samfriedman.bsky.social. We know elites try to convince ppl that they're ordinary via their class origin or their taste. But what happens when those attempts at ordinariness fail, and does this affect how we think about inequality. journals-sagepub-com.lse.idm.oclc.org/doi/full/10....
September 2, 2026 at 10:13 AM
New paper w @samfriedman.bsky.social. We know elites try to convince ppl that they're ordinary via their class origin or their taste. But what happens when those attempts at ordinariness fail, and does this affect how we think about inequality. journals-sagepub-com.lse.idm.oclc.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Sam Friedman
Why do elites pretend to be common people?
By @samfriedman.bsky.social and @aaronreeves.bsky.social of @lsesociology.bsky.social.
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
By @samfriedman.bsky.social and @aaronreeves.bsky.social of @lsesociology.bsky.social.
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Why do elites pretend to be common people? | LSE British Politics
Presenting themselves as common people has become a bit of trend among UK elites and politicians. This strategy is surprisingly effective, but with limits.
blogs.lse.ac.uk
September 1, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Why do elites pretend to be common people?
By @samfriedman.bsky.social and @aaronreeves.bsky.social of @lsesociology.bsky.social.
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
By @samfriedman.bsky.social and @aaronreeves.bsky.social of @lsesociology.bsky.social.
blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
New! We know elites work hard to be seen as ordinary.But do people believe them?We use experiments to explore what happens when performances of ordinariness are undermined (and why this matters for income inequality)
Paper: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Blog: blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Paper: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Blog: blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
September 2, 2026 at 8:07 AM
New! We know elites work hard to be seen as ordinary.But do people believe them?We use experiments to explore what happens when performances of ordinariness are undermined (and why this matters for income inequality)
Paper: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Blog: blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Paper: journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Blog: blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandp...
Reposted by Sam Friedman
last minute PhD opportunity on stereotypes, social networks, and social inequalities at @ucl.ac.uk @ioe.bsky.social @sriucl.bsky.social, two fully funded 4-year positions are available! www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
August 27, 2026 at 7:14 PM
last minute PhD opportunity on stereotypes, social networks, and social inequalities at @ucl.ac.uk @ioe.bsky.social @sriucl.bsky.social, two fully funded 4-year positions are available! www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
Reposted by Sam Friedman
"Today’s elite may see itself as more meritocratic and down-to-earth, but do its claims of progressive social change stand up?"
Class privilege continues to shape who reaches the top, write
@samfriedman.bsky.social & @aaronreeves.bsky.social
fabians.org.uk/common-people/
Class privilege continues to shape who reaches the top, write
@samfriedman.bsky.social & @aaronreeves.bsky.social
fabians.org.uk/common-people/
Common People | Fabian Society
Fabian Society
fabians.org.uk
July 13, 2026 at 2:56 PM
"Today’s elite may see itself as more meritocratic and down-to-earth, but do its claims of progressive social change stand up?"
Class privilege continues to shape who reaches the top, write
@samfriedman.bsky.social & @aaronreeves.bsky.social
fabians.org.uk/common-people/
Class privilege continues to shape who reaches the top, write
@samfriedman.bsky.social & @aaronreeves.bsky.social
fabians.org.uk/common-people/
Reposted by Sam Friedman
The new issue of Contexts is out! As the new Books Editor, I'm particularly jazzed about @joyamisra.bsky.social's banging review of RF Kuang's Katabasis, but lots of great public-facing work in here!
New issue! Our Spring '26 issue is free to read, share, and download through July 22.
➡️ journals.sagepub.com/home/ctx
➡️ journals.sagepub.com/home/ctx
June 25, 2026 at 2:18 PM
The new issue of Contexts is out! As the new Books Editor, I'm particularly jazzed about @joyamisra.bsky.social's banging review of RF Kuang's Katabasis, but lots of great public-facing work in here!
Reposted by Sam Friedman
Just out in @socialforcesfan.bsky.social some of our work comparing Elites in Brazil and South Africa!
Using a small survey with random sample of CEOs, legislators, and top bureaucrats in both countries, we unpack the contradictory ways elite think about merit and taxation and redistrution.
Using a small survey with random sample of CEOs, legislators, and top bureaucrats in both countries, we unpack the contradictory ways elite think about merit and taxation and redistrution.
June 19, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Just out in @socialforcesfan.bsky.social some of our work comparing Elites in Brazil and South Africa!
Using a small survey with random sample of CEOs, legislators, and top bureaucrats in both countries, we unpack the contradictory ways elite think about merit and taxation and redistrution.
Using a small survey with random sample of CEOs, legislators, and top bureaucrats in both countries, we unpack the contradictory ways elite think about merit and taxation and redistrution.
Reposted by Sam Friedman
My Labour PPC backstory: I grew up in a single parent family on a council estate in East London
My Tory PPC backstory: my grandparents were small businessmen
My Reform PPC backstory: my grandparents came to this country legally
My Restore PPC backstory: I am descended from white Rhodesians
My Tory PPC backstory: my grandparents were small businessmen
My Reform PPC backstory: my grandparents came to this country legally
My Restore PPC backstory: I am descended from white Rhodesians
It's quite a fun exercise to try to work out what the most working class and most middle class version of the story of your own social background you could tell. (I could tell wildly different stories about my own social class by picking the biographies of two grandparents - one from each parent.)
June 16, 2026 at 5:11 PM
My Labour PPC backstory: I grew up in a single parent family on a council estate in East London
My Tory PPC backstory: my grandparents were small businessmen
My Reform PPC backstory: my grandparents came to this country legally
My Restore PPC backstory: I am descended from white Rhodesians
My Tory PPC backstory: my grandparents were small businessmen
My Reform PPC backstory: my grandparents came to this country legally
My Restore PPC backstory: I am descended from white Rhodesians
Reposted by Sam Friedman
Our book Trigger Points is now out in open access. Huge thanks to Mike Savage for a terrific foreword and to Michèle Lamont, Silja Häusermann and Daniel Ziblatt for their kind words.
Link below:
@mikesavagelse.bsky.social @mlamont.bsky.social @siljahausermann.bsky.social @dziblatt.bsky.social
Link below:
@mikesavagelse.bsky.social @mlamont.bsky.social @siljahausermann.bsky.social @dziblatt.bsky.social
June 11, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Our book Trigger Points is now out in open access. Huge thanks to Mike Savage for a terrific foreword and to Michèle Lamont, Silja Häusermann and Daniel Ziblatt for their kind words.
Link below:
@mikesavagelse.bsky.social @mlamont.bsky.social @siljahausermann.bsky.social @dziblatt.bsky.social
Link below:
@mikesavagelse.bsky.social @mlamont.bsky.social @siljahausermann.bsky.social @dziblatt.bsky.social
Reposted by Sam Friedman
Summer School: Class, Culture & Discontents
📆 July 23rd - 24th
📍London
Full programme with all star line up ⭐
23rd July feat @darrenchetty.bsky.social @jolittler.bsky.social @jasnijjar.bsky.social etc on prison education, meritocracy, colonialism, war + more
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/summer-sch...
📆 July 23rd - 24th
📍London
Full programme with all star line up ⭐
23rd July feat @darrenchetty.bsky.social @jolittler.bsky.social @jasnijjar.bsky.social etc on prison education, meritocracy, colonialism, war + more
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/summer-sch...
June 1, 2026 at 8:46 AM
Summer School: Class, Culture & Discontents
📆 July 23rd - 24th
📍London
Full programme with all star line up ⭐
23rd July feat @darrenchetty.bsky.social @jolittler.bsky.social @jasnijjar.bsky.social etc on prison education, meritocracy, colonialism, war + more
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/summer-sch...
📆 July 23rd - 24th
📍London
Full programme with all star line up ⭐
23rd July feat @darrenchetty.bsky.social @jolittler.bsky.social @jasnijjar.bsky.social etc on prison education, meritocracy, colonialism, war + more
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/summer-sch...
Reposted by Sam Friedman
🎙️ Who really runs Britain?
In this podcast, @samfriedman.bsky.social and @aaronreeves.bsky.social unpack the “elite within the elite”, the factions shaping the UK’s future, the importance of being “meritocratically legitimate” and the myth of being “just ordinary”.
Listen now 👇
In this podcast, @samfriedman.bsky.social and @aaronreeves.bsky.social unpack the “elite within the elite”, the factions shaping the UK’s future, the importance of being “meritocratically legitimate” and the myth of being “just ordinary”.
Listen now 👇
Peter York's Culture Wars House Party: Professors Sam Friedman and Aaron Reeves: Myths and Realities of the British Elite
Professors Sam Friedman and Aaron Reeves of the London School of Economics, authors of Born to Rule – a forensic, often very funny X‑ray of the British establishment, drawn from that venerable ...
buff.ly
June 15, 2026 at 11:01 AM
🎙️ Who really runs Britain?
In this podcast, @samfriedman.bsky.social and @aaronreeves.bsky.social unpack the “elite within the elite”, the factions shaping the UK’s future, the importance of being “meritocratically legitimate” and the myth of being “just ordinary”.
Listen now 👇
In this podcast, @samfriedman.bsky.social and @aaronreeves.bsky.social unpack the “elite within the elite”, the factions shaping the UK’s future, the importance of being “meritocratically legitimate” and the myth of being “just ordinary”.
Listen now 👇
Reposted by Sam Friedman
Who really runs Britain — and why do they insist they're just ordinary?
Great fun convo withLSE profs @samfriedman.bsky.social & @aaronreeves.bsky.social authors of Born to Rule with @peteryork.bsky.social on his Peter York's Culture Wars House Party Podcast
🎧 podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...
Great fun convo withLSE profs @samfriedman.bsky.social & @aaronreeves.bsky.social authors of Born to Rule with @peteryork.bsky.social on his Peter York's Culture Wars House Party Podcast
🎧 podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...
June 12, 2026 at 8:35 AM
Who really runs Britain — and why do they insist they're just ordinary?
Great fun convo withLSE profs @samfriedman.bsky.social & @aaronreeves.bsky.social authors of Born to Rule with @peteryork.bsky.social on his Peter York's Culture Wars House Party Podcast
🎧 podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...
Great fun convo withLSE profs @samfriedman.bsky.social & @aaronreeves.bsky.social authors of Born to Rule with @peteryork.bsky.social on his Peter York's Culture Wars House Party Podcast
🎧 podfollow.com/peter-yorks-...
Reposted by Sam Friedman
Drawing on qualitative interviews with middle-class households aged 30 to 39 in Paris, this paper examines how parental financial support is negotiated among homebuyers and renters and how it affects family relationships.
#EarlyView in #BJS ➡️ onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
#EarlyView in #BJS ➡️ onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
June 9, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Drawing on qualitative interviews with middle-class households aged 30 to 39 in Paris, this paper examines how parental financial support is negotiated among homebuyers and renters and how it affects family relationships.
#EarlyView in #BJS ➡️ onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
#EarlyView in #BJS ➡️ onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Sam Friedman
This looks like excellent and fascinating work! Somewhat surprisingly it resonates with what @samfriedman.bsky.social and I found in the UK, i.e., access to elite positions (beyond just politicians) has been fairly stable across C20 among people born into wealth www.hup.harvard.edu/books/978067...
May 14, 2026 at 7:41 PM
This looks like excellent and fascinating work! Somewhat surprisingly it resonates with what @samfriedman.bsky.social and I found in the UK, i.e., access to elite positions (beyond just politicians) has been fairly stable across C20 among people born into wealth www.hup.harvard.edu/books/978067...
Reposted by Sam Friedman
This is fascinating - and very very important. Don't be put off by the pic. @samfriedman.bsky.social with #DavidMarr #LateNightLive
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
The false stories the British elite tell about themselves - ABC listen
The British elite present themselves as part of a new, open, dynamic meritocracy. Is that true? Of course not, and two sociologists have the data to prove it.
Guest: Professor Sam Friedman, a sociolog...
www.abc.net.au
April 29, 2026 at 1:34 PM
This is fascinating - and very very important. Don't be put off by the pic. @samfriedman.bsky.social with #DavidMarr #LateNightLive
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Great paper! Worth a read
New paper in @bjsociology.bsky.social: ‘Privileged Precarity’. It explores how middle class young professionals leverage housing insecurity to synchronise their lives with the rhythms of precarious labour markets.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
April 22, 2026 at 8:54 AM
Great paper! Worth a read
Reposted by Sam Friedman
Please join us online on Wednesday March 11 (tomorrow!) at 3pm for @samfriedman.bsky.social (LSE) and Rose Butler (Deakin) for our next online seminar "Class Diplomacy: Cross-Class Friendship and Social Mobility'
Class Diplomacy: Cross-Class Friendship and Social Mobility
Negotiating class based tensions and the politics of friendship
www.eventbrite.com.au
March 10, 2026 at 5:25 AM
Please join us online on Wednesday March 11 (tomorrow!) at 3pm for @samfriedman.bsky.social (LSE) and Rose Butler (Deakin) for our next online seminar "Class Diplomacy: Cross-Class Friendship and Social Mobility'
Reposted by Sam Friedman
🧵on my new paper "Synthetic personas distort the structure of human belief systems" w Roberto Cerina I'm v excited about...
🚨 Do synthetic samples look like human samples?
We compare 28 LLMs to the 2024 General Social Survey (GSS) to find out + develop host of diagnostics...
🚨 Do synthetic samples look like human samples?
We compare 28 LLMs to the 2024 General Social Survey (GSS) to find out + develop host of diagnostics...
February 25, 2026 at 7:46 PM
🧵on my new paper "Synthetic personas distort the structure of human belief systems" w Roberto Cerina I'm v excited about...
🚨 Do synthetic samples look like human samples?
We compare 28 LLMs to the 2024 General Social Survey (GSS) to find out + develop host of diagnostics...
🚨 Do synthetic samples look like human samples?
We compare 28 LLMs to the 2024 General Social Survey (GSS) to find out + develop host of diagnostics...
Reposted by Sam Friedman
Had a great time talking to @drdaveobrien.bsky.social about The Division of Rationalized Labor. Listen to the podcast here: newbooksnetwork.com/the-division...
Michelle Jackson, "The Division of Rationalized Labor" (Harvard UP, 2025) - New Books Network
newbooksnetwork.com
March 2, 2026 at 5:51 AM
Had a great time talking to @drdaveobrien.bsky.social about The Division of Rationalized Labor. Listen to the podcast here: newbooksnetwork.com/the-division...