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Selling the Dream: The Billion-Dollar Industry Bankrupting Americans
Peabody and Emmy Award–winning journalist Jane Marie expands on her popular podcast The Dream to expose the scourge of multilevel marketing schemes and how they have profited off the evisceration of the American working class.
We’ve all heard of Amway, Mary Kay, Tupperware, and LuLaRoe, but few know the nefarious way they and countless other multilevel marketing (MLM) companies prey on desperate Americans struggling to make ends meet.
When factories close, stalwart industries shutter, and blue-collar opportunities evaporate, MLMs are there, ready to pounce on the crumbling American Dream. MLMs thrive in rural areas and on military bases, targeting women with promises of being their own boss and millions of dollars in easy income—even at the risk of their entire life savings. But the vast majority—99.7%—of those who join an MLM make no money or lose money, and wind up stuck with inventory they can’t sell to recoup their losses.
Featuring in-depth reporting and intimate research, Selling the Dream reveals how these companies—often owned by political and corporate elites, such as the Devos and the Van Andels families—have made a windfall in profit off of the desperation of the American working class.
We’ve all heard of Amway, Mary Kay, Tupperware, and LuLaRoe, but few know the nefarious way they and countless other multilevel marketing (MLM) companies prey on desperate Americans struggling to make ends meet.
When factories close, stalwart industries shutter, and blue-collar opportunities evaporate, MLMs are there, ready to pounce on the crumbling American Dream. MLMs thrive in rural areas and on military bases, targeting women with promises of being their own boss and millions of dollars in easy income—even at the risk of their entire life savings. But the vast majority—99.7%—of those who join an MLM make no money or lose money, and wind up stuck with inventory they can’t sell to recoup their losses.
Featuring in-depth reporting and intimate research, Selling the Dream reveals how these companies—often owned by political and corporate elites, such as the Devos and the Van Andels families—have made a windfall in profit off of the desperation of the American working class.
7 pages, Audiobook
First published March 12, 2024
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March 14, 2024
3.5 - Before I say, anything else, let me do a little service journalism and let you know that if you listened to the Dream podcast, you don’t really need to read this book.
I picked up this book specifically because I liked the first season of the Dream podcast so much. I have a lot of interest in nonfiction about cults and high control groups, and that does tend to overlap with anti-MLM media quite a bit. I also have unbearable know-it-all tendencies and love debunking media, so that podcast was pretty much right up my alley… which is why I was disappointed to be disappointed by the book.
A very large chunk of this book is dedicated to the history of network selling and multilevel marketing schemes and how a few of the bigger companies were founded. As I was listening to the audiobook, I remember thinking “oh yeah! I remember this episode from the podcast. It wasn’t my favorite, but I’m sure once this section is over we will get onto the good stuff” and then looking down and being astonished to see that the audiobook was 70% over. This book was really short at around six hours, so I really don’t understand why they couldn’t have made it longer so that they could’ve included more personal anecdotes and thoughtful analysis instead of spending so much time on the history of a few characters. That episode of the podcast was the one I personally found least interesting, so the ratio of subject matter in this longer book format was very much not to my taste.
I will note that I listened to the audiobook which was performed by Jane Marie herself, who also hosted the podcast. I am curious if her extremely casual and chatty tone came across as well in print as it does in audio. I personally don’t connect to her performance style as much as I do other podcast hosts, so I was kind of ambivalent about the narrative performance here.
I was also kind of disappointed by how basic this book was. When the podcast first came out I don’t feel like as much anti-MLM media was available so it felt very fresh and new. But as the book mentions, we have now had several documentaries on the topic along with the John Oliver episode, other books and several podcasts, and even subreddits on the topic. I feel like this book needed to have a higher level of insight and analysis to justify its existence because a general negative sentiment about MLM’s is pretty mainstream now. When I picked it up, I had assumed it would have been updated with new information, but the only thing I noticed that was fresh and recent was a brief anecdote about TikTok that was used as the final epilogue image and wasn’t analyzed or discussed at all. I’m certain that short form video taking over social media and the increasingly narrow silos of content we consume must be affecting the MLM landscape, but I guess this book wasn’t interested in that. Instead we’re gonna talk about Holiday Magic again.
I do think that this book has some good utility as a basic overview of the history of MLM‘s, and does a good job talking about the sinister intertwining of business interests with politics. It has a good section on the consequences of underfunding regulatory bodies. But I just don’t think it’s gonna get a lot of eyeballs on it when compared to snappy first person tell-alls from people who made actual money in MLM schemes and now want to generate even more wealth through publicly performing guilt about that experience (Yes, this is a sideswipe at Hey, Hun). Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t engaging enough, and I think the paucity of personal anecdotes and lack of uniquely insightful analysis is going to keep it from being particularly memorable. The podcast had a whole gimmick where the hosts actually participated in an MLM scheme and went to a conference and the first person experience of listening to women desperately seeking hope for financial freedom in that setting was genuinely moving. Where was that ingenuity and creative thinking when this book was outlined?
Edit to add: it is kinda comical that you can read the title of Selling the Dream as referring to the author cashing in on her podcast, the Dream. It really does feel like the podcast was just stretched out to book length without anything added (and with a lot of things lost), but if that’s the case, why did it take six years to come out? It would have felt timely if the book also came out in 2018, but it just doesn’t have enough insight to be coming out in 2024.
I picked up this book specifically because I liked the first season of the Dream podcast so much. I have a lot of interest in nonfiction about cults and high control groups, and that does tend to overlap with anti-MLM media quite a bit. I also have unbearable know-it-all tendencies and love debunking media, so that podcast was pretty much right up my alley… which is why I was disappointed to be disappointed by the book.
A very large chunk of this book is dedicated to the history of network selling and multilevel marketing schemes and how a few of the bigger companies were founded. As I was listening to the audiobook, I remember thinking “oh yeah! I remember this episode from the podcast. It wasn’t my favorite, but I’m sure once this section is over we will get onto the good stuff” and then looking down and being astonished to see that the audiobook was 70% over. This book was really short at around six hours, so I really don’t understand why they couldn’t have made it longer so that they could’ve included more personal anecdotes and thoughtful analysis instead of spending so much time on the history of a few characters. That episode of the podcast was the one I personally found least interesting, so the ratio of subject matter in this longer book format was very much not to my taste.
I will note that I listened to the audiobook which was performed by Jane Marie herself, who also hosted the podcast. I am curious if her extremely casual and chatty tone came across as well in print as it does in audio. I personally don’t connect to her performance style as much as I do other podcast hosts, so I was kind of ambivalent about the narrative performance here.
I was also kind of disappointed by how basic this book was. When the podcast first came out I don’t feel like as much anti-MLM media was available so it felt very fresh and new. But as the book mentions, we have now had several documentaries on the topic along with the John Oliver episode, other books and several podcasts, and even subreddits on the topic. I feel like this book needed to have a higher level of insight and analysis to justify its existence because a general negative sentiment about MLM’s is pretty mainstream now. When I picked it up, I had assumed it would have been updated with new information, but the only thing I noticed that was fresh and recent was a brief anecdote about TikTok that was used as the final epilogue image and wasn’t analyzed or discussed at all. I’m certain that short form video taking over social media and the increasingly narrow silos of content we consume must be affecting the MLM landscape, but I guess this book wasn’t interested in that. Instead we’re gonna talk about Holiday Magic again.
I do think that this book has some good utility as a basic overview of the history of MLM‘s, and does a good job talking about the sinister intertwining of business interests with politics. It has a good section on the consequences of underfunding regulatory bodies. But I just don’t think it’s gonna get a lot of eyeballs on it when compared to snappy first person tell-alls from people who made actual money in MLM schemes and now want to generate even more wealth through publicly performing guilt about that experience (Yes, this is a sideswipe at Hey, Hun). Unfortunately, this book just wasn’t engaging enough, and I think the paucity of personal anecdotes and lack of uniquely insightful analysis is going to keep it from being particularly memorable. The podcast had a whole gimmick where the hosts actually participated in an MLM scheme and went to a conference and the first person experience of listening to women desperately seeking hope for financial freedom in that setting was genuinely moving. Where was that ingenuity and creative thinking when this book was outlined?
Edit to add: it is kinda comical that you can read the title of Selling the Dream as referring to the author cashing in on her podcast, the Dream. It really does feel like the podcast was just stretched out to book length without anything added (and with a lot of things lost), but if that’s the case, why did it take six years to come out? It would have felt timely if the book also came out in 2018, but it just doesn’t have enough insight to be coming out in 2024.
July 2, 2024
“Hey hun! Want to find out how you can make thousands of dollars from home? #girlboss”
If you’re a millennial woman, you’ve probably received a message along those lines from an old high-school classmate or a friend of a friend. In recent years, the devastating impact of multi-level marketing schemes on bank accounts and friendships alike has become increasingly well-known. This book by the host of The Dream podcast delves into the history of MLMs to explore how they came into being and why they’re still legally allowed in the U.S.
If you’ve listened to the author’s podcast, some of the information and examples in this book will be familiar to you already, and the focus is definitely more on the history of MLMs than their modern impact. But it is an enjoyable, informative and witty read that left me both angry at MLM founders and more compassionate for their victims.
If you’re a millennial woman, you’ve probably received a message along those lines from an old high-school classmate or a friend of a friend. In recent years, the devastating impact of multi-level marketing schemes on bank accounts and friendships alike has become increasingly well-known. This book by the host of The Dream podcast delves into the history of MLMs to explore how they came into being and why they’re still legally allowed in the U.S.
If you’ve listened to the author’s podcast, some of the information and examples in this book will be familiar to you already, and the focus is definitely more on the history of MLMs than their modern impact. But it is an enjoyable, informative and witty read that left me both angry at MLM founders and more compassionate for their victims.
April 7, 2025
I'm sadly finding that books written by podcast hosts typically end up being longer-form versions of their podcasts (if you listen to all the podcast episodes, you've effectively already read the book) and nearly always read like extended podcast scripts (and by that I mean they're far too casually written).
I hate painting in broad strokes like this because there's nearly always an exception to the rule, but I think I'm going to steer clear of books authored by podcasts hosts going forward.
I hate painting in broad strokes like this because there's nearly always an exception to the rule, but I think I'm going to steer clear of books authored by podcasts hosts going forward.
May 9, 2024
4.0 Stars
This was an interesting examination of MLMs. As someone critical of these businesses, I enjoyed the deep dive. If you sell for Amway, You’ll probably hate this book.
This was an interesting examination of MLMs. As someone critical of these businesses, I enjoyed the deep dive. If you sell for Amway, You’ll probably hate this book.
January 4, 2024
In Selling the Dream, journalist Jane Marie delves into the world of MLMs — How they’ve gained popularity, who they prey on, and why, far more often than not, the participants end up losing the most in their game.
The idea of making money without the traditional demands of a corporate job can seem appealing, but the requirements to earn — and maintain — success aren’t sustainable, especially when a market becomes oversaturated, which in the MLM world, they’re all bound to eventually, given the pyramid scheme’s reliance on recruiting.
Jane highlights Tupperware, Amway, LulaRoe, Mary Kay, and more in Selling the Dream. She discusses who MLMs target, how they frequently use religion in their marketing efforts, and why, while illegal, pyramid schemes are often hard for the FTC to pursue claims against.
I wasn’t familiar with Jane or her podcast, The Dream, prior to reading this book. The content is informative yet also digestible, with some dry humor included. I don’t know if I can say I learned a ton of new info reading Selling the Dream, however, I still found it fascinating and Jane’s detailed research in the book is evident.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
The idea of making money without the traditional demands of a corporate job can seem appealing, but the requirements to earn — and maintain — success aren’t sustainable, especially when a market becomes oversaturated, which in the MLM world, they’re all bound to eventually, given the pyramid scheme’s reliance on recruiting.
Jane highlights Tupperware, Amway, LulaRoe, Mary Kay, and more in Selling the Dream. She discusses who MLMs target, how they frequently use religion in their marketing efforts, and why, while illegal, pyramid schemes are often hard for the FTC to pursue claims against.
I wasn’t familiar with Jane or her podcast, The Dream, prior to reading this book. The content is informative yet also digestible, with some dry humor included. I don’t know if I can say I learned a ton of new info reading Selling the Dream, however, I still found it fascinating and Jane’s detailed research in the book is evident.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 9, 2024
This is a solid intro into the world and history of MLMs. I listened to her podcast (somewhat) and found this was similar, though I honestly don't know what was from the show and what was new and was was repeat from other MLM stuff I have watched. It was a fast read and good on audio, but nothing ground breaking for me here.
February 12, 2024
Anyone who speaks out against MLMs gets an automatic 5 stars from me. I don’t make the rules.
But in all seriousness, this book has some great inside stories from these horrendous “companies” and I would definitely recommend the read.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted (free) ARC
But in all seriousness, this book has some great inside stories from these horrendous “companies” and I would definitely recommend the read.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted (free) ARC
April 27, 2024
Like they said! - they being many/most other reviewers!
The last few years have spawned a number of good media info sources - podcasts, articles, books, films, series - about MLMs. This is a good thing; it behooves us to understand and be wary of them.
However, given that many of us interested in this topic have already consumed much of the pertinent media that arrived in this recent wave - the author’s own multi-season podcast, The Dream, foremost among them - it seems this book is arriving a bit late on the scene. Much of its content will be especially familiar to those who’ve listened to the podcast, and for me, the narrative style worked a bit better organized into podcast episodes and seasons and felt a bit rambling and all over the place in book format. I felt like throughout the whole read, my brain was working overtime trying to decipher the overall organizational scheme. (Certainly not pyramidial, thank goodness, but otherwise I remain unsure!)
Nonetheless, this book contains a good solid history of MLMs and can be recommended for those still seeking to learn more.
The last few years have spawned a number of good media info sources - podcasts, articles, books, films, series - about MLMs. This is a good thing; it behooves us to understand and be wary of them.
However, given that many of us interested in this topic have already consumed much of the pertinent media that arrived in this recent wave - the author’s own multi-season podcast, The Dream, foremost among them - it seems this book is arriving a bit late on the scene. Much of its content will be especially familiar to those who’ve listened to the podcast, and for me, the narrative style worked a bit better organized into podcast episodes and seasons and felt a bit rambling and all over the place in book format. I felt like throughout the whole read, my brain was working overtime trying to decipher the overall organizational scheme. (Certainly not pyramidial, thank goodness, but otherwise I remain unsure!)
Nonetheless, this book contains a good solid history of MLMs and can be recommended for those still seeking to learn more.
October 2, 2023
I'm interested in the anti-MLM community and have read a lot of books and listened to podcasts on the topic. This book fills the need of context - the history of how different MLMs started and how back they go. It doesn't feel as personal/emotional as others I have read (particularly Hey, Hun by Emily Lynn Paulson), but I definitely recommend it alongside those memoirs. It's really important for people to know what kind of damage such companies are inflicting on people's lives.
March 30, 2024
A great critical analysis of Multi-level marketing (MLM) schemes in America over the years and the reasons why they're so popular and manage to persist. I enjoyed listening to this one a lot and would recommend to anyone who's ever bought or sold something from/for a MLM company like Tupperware, Avon, etc, etc!
October 30, 2024
Full disclosure, I read part of this book while eating pie from a Tupperware container… a Tupperware container that’s probably about as old as I am, and still going strong. So while some MLM products are not complete rip offs, I agree with the author of this book that the MLM business model is mostly a pyramid scheme.
The actual products (Tupperware, Plexus, Young Living, Mary Kay) vary from decent to overpriced junk to quackery. However, the people being scammed the most aren’t the end consumers, it’s the distributors/consultants that are losing their shirts in what was sold to them as an easy way to get rich.
Most of the people targeted by MLMs are women, and stay-at-home moms are especially vulnerable, because they are promised an easy way to make money while still being able to take care of their house and kids.
One thing I learned from this book is how much MLMs shaft people by overcharging them for training materials and seminars.
This is a quick read, it has all the characteristics of being written by a journalist- a good mixture of statistics and anecdotes.
I wish this were a book I could recommend more to family and friends, but the author’s irreverent humor is a turnoff (and the first chapter of the book is about a woman who joined an MLM company that sold adult toys.) The vulgarity is why I knocked one star off the rating.
Jane Marie obviously has a distaste for conservative Christians and especially Mormons…Some of the criticism is probably warranted… some not.
But that aside, if you want to educate yourself on the history of MLMs, and how they work, this will help. And remember, there’s no way to get rich quick.
The actual products (Tupperware, Plexus, Young Living, Mary Kay) vary from decent to overpriced junk to quackery. However, the people being scammed the most aren’t the end consumers, it’s the distributors/consultants that are losing their shirts in what was sold to them as an easy way to get rich.
Most of the people targeted by MLMs are women, and stay-at-home moms are especially vulnerable, because they are promised an easy way to make money while still being able to take care of their house and kids.
One thing I learned from this book is how much MLMs shaft people by overcharging them for training materials and seminars.
This is a quick read, it has all the characteristics of being written by a journalist- a good mixture of statistics and anecdotes.
I wish this were a book I could recommend more to family and friends, but the author’s irreverent humor is a turnoff (and the first chapter of the book is about a woman who joined an MLM company that sold adult toys.) The vulgarity is why I knocked one star off the rating.
Jane Marie obviously has a distaste for conservative Christians and especially Mormons…Some of the criticism is probably warranted… some not.
But that aside, if you want to educate yourself on the history of MLMs, and how they work, this will help. And remember, there’s no way to get rich quick.
January 4, 2025
Anything anti MLM is up my street
November 24, 2023
I cringe when I think of the time I spent in an MLM.
Sure, there were some good parts in the friends I made and parts of the community I found, but there was a lot of not so great stuff. I was one of the lucky ones who didn’t lose hundreds or thousands of dollars - but it certainly wasn’t the dream I was sold. In her book, Selling the Dream, Jane Marie talks about so many of the lines I was fed:
🚩Professional development as a cure all.
🚩 It not being a pyramid scheme.
🚩 Gotta try all the products to be successful to “be a product of the product”
🚩 Cringey tactics to bring people into your down line.
From Amway to Tupperware to Arbonne and Lularoe - it’s all the same lines and tactics being forced on unsuspecting distributors.
This book provides a fascinating look into the history of MLMs. It reveals how many MLM founders have just rinsed and repeated the same predatory, damaging and unethical formula with whatever fill in the blank product they can shill.
Selling the Dream is an excellent companion to Jane Marie’s podcast. Her writing style is very accessible and intriguing. And while much of the MLM approach was familiar to me, I found myself in disbelief to learn how long this has been going on, in the same way repeatedly, and how little the government has done to step in and put a stop to these companies.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Sure, there were some good parts in the friends I made and parts of the community I found, but there was a lot of not so great stuff. I was one of the lucky ones who didn’t lose hundreds or thousands of dollars - but it certainly wasn’t the dream I was sold. In her book, Selling the Dream, Jane Marie talks about so many of the lines I was fed:
🚩Professional development as a cure all.
🚩 It not being a pyramid scheme.
🚩 Gotta try all the products to be successful to “be a product of the product”
🚩 Cringey tactics to bring people into your down line.
From Amway to Tupperware to Arbonne and Lularoe - it’s all the same lines and tactics being forced on unsuspecting distributors.
This book provides a fascinating look into the history of MLMs. It reveals how many MLM founders have just rinsed and repeated the same predatory, damaging and unethical formula with whatever fill in the blank product they can shill.
Selling the Dream is an excellent companion to Jane Marie’s podcast. Her writing style is very accessible and intriguing. And while much of the MLM approach was familiar to me, I found myself in disbelief to learn how long this has been going on, in the same way repeatedly, and how little the government has done to step in and put a stop to these companies.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
March 7, 2024
Selling the Dream by Jane Marie. Thanks to @atriabooks for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
An in-depth report on multilevel marketing preying on Americans struggling to make ends meet.
I knew I didn’t like MLM’s for a reason, and this book articulated all those reasons for me. I had no idea how deep this was and how far back the history goes. This was a very interesting non-fiction that gave a lot of information I didn’t know. I particularly liked the real life stories of women who lost money while constantly struggling to get ahead. A note that a study by the Consumer Awareness Institute showed that 99% of those who join an MLM make no money or even lose money. 99%.
“This ‘industry’ has so many obvious flaws yet it’s surprising not much is being done to stop it.”
Selling the Dream comes out 3/12.
An in-depth report on multilevel marketing preying on Americans struggling to make ends meet.
I knew I didn’t like MLM’s for a reason, and this book articulated all those reasons for me. I had no idea how deep this was and how far back the history goes. This was a very interesting non-fiction that gave a lot of information I didn’t know. I particularly liked the real life stories of women who lost money while constantly struggling to get ahead. A note that a study by the Consumer Awareness Institute showed that 99% of those who join an MLM make no money or even lose money. 99%.
“This ‘industry’ has so many obvious flaws yet it’s surprising not much is being done to stop it.”
Selling the Dream comes out 3/12.
March 21, 2024
A subject I am very interested in, completely mishandled with terrible writing. This reads like the first draft you write yourself when you’re just trying to get a book done, and somehow made it through an entire editing process?
Full of words like “thingamabob,” “okeydokey,” “duh” and phrases such as “You get it” and my personal favorite “Or something? I dunno”. If she doesn’t know, then why is she writing about it, and why am I reading it?!
I’m sure someone out there finds this relatable and funny, but for me it was unprofessional and annoying and I lost any belief that her research went beyond Wikipedia and a few Netflix documentaries.
“I mean, how many people can claim to be authors? (LOL @ me.)” I mean, really…?
ETA: turns out this is basically a podcast turned book, and that’s exactly what it reads like.
Full of words like “thingamabob,” “okeydokey,” “duh” and phrases such as “You get it” and my personal favorite “Or something? I dunno”. If she doesn’t know, then why is she writing about it, and why am I reading it?!
I’m sure someone out there finds this relatable and funny, but for me it was unprofessional and annoying and I lost any belief that her research went beyond Wikipedia and a few Netflix documentaries.
“I mean, how many people can claim to be authors? (LOL @ me.)” I mean, really…?
ETA: turns out this is basically a podcast turned book, and that’s exactly what it reads like.
July 19, 2024
3.75 stars
Way more of a history and sociology of MLMS than a view from the inside, which I could have probably expected if I had read more about it. Definitively informative and interesting! If you’re looking for a more dishy insider view, I recommend Hey, Hun!
Way more of a history and sociology of MLMS than a view from the inside, which I could have probably expected if I had read more about it. Definitively informative and interesting! If you’re looking for a more dishy insider view, I recommend Hey, Hun!
March 30, 2024
My middle of the road rating isn't because this is a poorly written book or the information isn't relevant and presented well. It's simply because I've consumed just about everything there is about MLMs and I didn't really learn anything new. I love Jane Marie's style, I love her podcast The Dream, she is so thoughtful about how she approaches this topic and I truly appreciate the way she synthesizes multiple experiences with research and sprinkles in humor. I just kind of get the feeling that if you've listened to all three seasons of her podcast, watched the John Oliver deep dive, watched the documentaries, etc. etc.... I don't think there's any there there. Which sucks because these damn things are still so prevalent and are constantly popping up and making suckers out of people who probably just genuinely want to find a better way to exist in a late capitalistic hellscape. But I kind of think we've just mined this topic and found all there is to find.
So, in short, I think this is a good book and if you haven't already fallen down the MLM rabbit hole, the audacity is here in full regalia.
3.5 stars
So, in short, I think this is a good book and if you haven't already fallen down the MLM rabbit hole, the audacity is here in full regalia.
3.5 stars
April 15, 2024
As someone who (beyond regrettably!) briefly bought into not one, but TWO 🤦🏻♀️, pyramid schemes in her life, I had high hopes for this book, but it missed the mark for me. I don’t know if I was expecting something else entirely, but I ended up skimming 80% of this book because I found most of the content just… boring. I can tell the author obviously put a lot of effort into researching the history of certain MLMs, but it wasn’t for me.
Read
June 18, 2025if you’ve done the podcast, no need to do the book.
If you haven’t done the podcast, I think you’ll enjoy the audio version of this. easily digestible information of MLM’s, the harm they do and how they get away with so much while also highlighting the importance of how influential it was in giving women a helping hand in making their own money and community outside of the home in 50’s and 60’s.
If you haven’t done the podcast, I think you’ll enjoy the audio version of this. easily digestible information of MLM’s, the harm they do and how they get away with so much while also highlighting the importance of how influential it was in giving women a helping hand in making their own money and community outside of the home in 50’s and 60’s.
August 27, 2024
A bit repetitive but overall I learned a lot
February 12, 2025
Book 9 of 2025 - ☑️! Selling the Dream: The Billion-Dollar Industry Bankrupting Americans by Jane Marie was a recent add to my TBR list. Since I saw a few other folks on Bookstagram reading this, it felt particularly short in length, it was available on Libby, and it felt like it was time to add another non-fiction book to the list, I figured I’d check it out.
MLMs & Pyramid Schemes have always intrigued me. Is it just me, or is it always someone who was considered a mean girl, who reaches out with some variation of: “Hey girlie! Long-time no see! I was wondering if you’re ready to (insert name of scheme here) with me yet - it’s amazing, I’m my own girl-boss, set my own hours and I’m making more money than I ever have before.” Like cults, I know these schemes tend to prey on people at the most vulnerable times in their lives, so it’s honestly just sad when people get involved, but I digress…
Marie’s book started off strong, with the in-depth descriptions, history and stories of MLMs, and while I understand why she included so many stories (and I’m generally a fan of that), it started to feel a bit repetitive to me toward the end.
3/5 ⭐️. I also find it sad that those who would benefit from reading this book the most, are the least likely to pick it up. #SellingtheDream💰 🚘 📉
MLMs & Pyramid Schemes have always intrigued me. Is it just me, or is it always someone who was considered a mean girl, who reaches out with some variation of: “Hey girlie! Long-time no see! I was wondering if you’re ready to (insert name of scheme here) with me yet - it’s amazing, I’m my own girl-boss, set my own hours and I’m making more money than I ever have before.” Like cults, I know these schemes tend to prey on people at the most vulnerable times in their lives, so it’s honestly just sad when people get involved, but I digress…
Marie’s book started off strong, with the in-depth descriptions, history and stories of MLMs, and while I understand why she included so many stories (and I’m generally a fan of that), it started to feel a bit repetitive to me toward the end.
3/5 ⭐️. I also find it sad that those who would benefit from reading this book the most, are the least likely to pick it up. #SellingtheDream💰 🚘 📉
May 5, 2024
A quick, informative read about the history of multi-level marketing schemes (aka MLMs or pyramid schemes) in the US. Unlike Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing, the author of this book hasn't joined an MLM herself, and intersperses interviews and vignettes with people who've joined MLMs with research on the history of some of the US' most well-known MLMs, including Amway, Avon, and (recently) LulaRoe. I enjoyed and learned quite a bit from this book.
July 3, 2024
So one of my GR friends, Jillian reviewed this book and it sounded so interesting, plus we have this problem all over the world, so I read it.
It is indeed very interesting, I just wish it was longer and had more user stories.
I believe the author that the exponential math of a pyramid scheme can never work, I just wish I could understand it.
Someone should write a book about the harm done to people in the developing world by these schemes, especially Africa.
The author supposedly has a great podcast that I really want to listen to as well.
It is indeed very interesting, I just wish it was longer and had more user stories.
I believe the author that the exponential math of a pyramid scheme can never work, I just wish I could understand it.
Someone should write a book about the harm done to people in the developing world by these schemes, especially Africa.
The author supposedly has a great podcast that I really want to listen to as well.
May 23, 2024
I listened to her podcast a while ago and have looked forward to her book, and both are fascinating and informative. This would be a good required reading text in high school as it could prevent a lot of good people from getting hurt down the road. I think the most insidious parts of MLMs is that they claim to provide a solution to what so many women need in an economy that is so difficult to raise a family on one salary - a way to work from home and/or have their own businesses. Thr fact that almost every one of these earnest people will make very little money for lots of sunk effort and hours at best, or lose quite a bit of money at worst, while a few others have made fortunes off their hopefulness is shameful. I’m looking at you Betsy DeVos…
April 7, 2024
A solid journalistic take on why MLMs continue to be so popular, even though they're a money-losing proposition for the majority of people who get involved. If you've listened to the author's podcast, a lot of the stories in the book will be familiar to you, but the book takes the conversation one step further by considering why MLMs haven't been subject to the kind of regulation they deserve.
March 17, 2024
3.5⭐️
June 21, 2024
I could hardly put this book down. It’s an entertaining overview of MLMs and their evolution through the 20th century, from sales parties to legal issues.
July 11, 2024
Nothing shocked me more than the political connections to MLMs.
July 2, 2025
It was repetitive and superficial and I didn't feel like I learned anything. It was hard to take seriously when the author uses phrases like "thinkamabob"; "LOL @ME"; and "doohickey"
April 15, 2024
MLMs are maddening and fascinating, and Jane Marie is an expert researcher and personable narrator. I listened to the podcast, so not much was new. If it had been, this would have been 5 stars.
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