The Profits of Religion: An Essay in Economic Interpretation

Published by the Author. Acceptable. 1926 fifth corrected edition Published by the Author (Pasadena, Calif.), 5 x 7 1/4 inches tall paperbound in grey printed wraps, 315, [4] pp. Spine is slightly cocked. Rubbing and edgewear to wrap, with tearing along the spine, and a 3/4-inch closed tear to the inner edge of the front cover. Otherwise, apart from mild age toning, a very good copy - clean and unmarked. The edition is noted in the author's 'Offertory' page, between the Copyright and Contents pages: 'Note to fifth edition, 1926: The Profits of Religion was first published early in 1917. The present edition represents a sale of over 60,000 copies, without counting a dozen translations.' There is a postcript at the end of 'Book 3,' at p. 157, regarding his libel suit against a former Austrian prime minister for calling Sinclair a 'scoundrel' for his accusations in Book 3 about alleged excesses in the Catholic Church in Austria. ~EE~ The Profits of Religion is a snapshot of religious movements in the U.S. before its entry into World War I. The book is the first of the 'Dead Hand' series - six books Sinclair wrote on American institutions which also includes The Brass Check (journalism), The Goose-step (higher education), The Goslings (elementary and high school education), Mammonart (art) and Money Writes! (literature). The term 'Dead Hand' ironically refers to Adam Smith's concept that allowing an 'invisible hand' of individual self-interest to shape economic relations provides the best result for society as a whole. In The Profits of Religion, Sinclair attacks institutionalized religion as a 'source of income to parasites, and the natural ally of every form of oppression and exploitation.' Upton Beall Sinclair, Jr. (1878-1968) was an American author who wrote nearly 100 books in many genres. He achieved popularity in the first half of the twentieth century, acquiring particular fame for his classic muckraking novel, The Jungle (1906), about conditions in the U.S. meat packing industry. Time magazine called him 'a man with every gift except humor and silence.' In 1943, he won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Sinclair was an outspoken socialist and ran unsuccessfully for Congress from the Socialist Party. He was also the Democratic Party nominee for Governor of California in 1934, but his campaign was defeated decisively.