History, business and psychology are expertly intertwined in this amazing treatise. The author should be commended for their storytelling, tenacity and their ability to make decades worth of knowledge and information easy to follow and recall. This book should be required reading for any would-be entrepreneur who thinks they know what it truly means to work for yourself and strive for the American dream. I couldn’t put this book down; I never wanted to.

incredibly well-written and well-researched book about MLMs and how awful they can be a lot of the time. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

Little Bosses Everywhere is a sharp, insightful, and at times, uncomfortable read that challenges the way we think about success, wealth, and the American Dream. The book takes a deep dive into the culture of pyramid schemes and multi level marketing (MLM), which have spread across society disguised as opportunities for financial independence and empowerment.

Read's approach is a mix of investigative journalism and cultural critique, drawing connections between the insidious nature of pyramid schemes and broader societal structures. She argues that pyramid schemes aren't just fringe scams, they reflect a deeper issue with how we value ambition, success, and entrepreneurship. The constant pressure to climb the ladder, to hustle, and to recruit others along the way, mirrors much of the corporate world, where success often comes at the expense of others.

What makes this book particularly effective is Read’s ability to humanize the issue. She doesn’t just expose the schemes from a theoretical perspective; she brings in the real stories of people who’ve been caught up in them. The book paints a picture of how these systems prey on people’s desires to improve their lives, promising riches and fulfillment, only to leave them financially drained and emotionally disillusioned. These personal stories make the book relatable and compelling, reminding us that pyramid schemes aren’t just faceless corporations, they affect real people.

Read also does a great job of connecting the rise of these schemes to the digital age. She highlights how platforms like Instagram and Facebook have made it easier for MLMs to thrive, with influencers marketing products and “lifestyle opportunities” that, at their core, often operate on the same principles as pyramid schemes. It’s a timely examination, especially as many people turn to social media for career inspiration and financial freedom, unaware of the exploitative systems at play.

Overall, Little Bosses Everywhere is an eye-opening read that forces you to rethink the hustle culture and question what success looks like in America. Read’s engaging writing and sharp insights make it a compelling read for anyone interested in the intersection of business, culture, and personal ambition. It’s a reminder that while chasing the dream, we need to be careful not to get caught in someone else’s scheme.

When reading non-fiction, some of my favorite topics are scams, history, and the history of scams, so you can imagine how excited I was to pick up this book. I was even more excited when I finished the last page, because this is quite simply the finest non-academic work on the multi-level marketing phenomenon to date. Many popular books that deal directly with MLM struggle with limited access (in the case of amateur investigators and anti-MLM activists) or a lack of broad historical insight (in the case of memoirs from former participants). This book, in contrast, provides an astonishing amount of meticulously-researched information in a tight and accessible text. Perhaps even more importantly, it places the history of MLM firmly within mainstream American economic and labor history, where it should have been all along. A gem for readers of true crime and economic history alike; one of my favorite reads of the year so far.

Everyone has heard of the terrible impact of pyramid schemes in the lives of people who are either desperately looking for income or who just seek financial independence.
Bridget Read exposes in a very thorough way, the origins and forefathers of the current MLM companies and how they have evaded the law for decades. Little Bosses Everywhere is an incredible testament of how these companies continue to get away with robbing hard-working people of their money in the name of "being your own boss."

This was a good book, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to know more about the history of MLM, pyramid schemes, and business. The history was super interesting and included a lot I didn't know.
A great deal of it is troubling, when you realize how the history of the people who started some of these companies have generational wealth that sinks into our current politics and business world.

Thank you to Crown Publishing and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.