The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit - Definition and Overview

The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, by Sloan Wilson, is a novel about the American search for purpose in world dominated by business. Tom and Betsy Rath share a struggle to find contentment in their hectic and material culture while a slew of other characters fight essentially the same battle, but stuggle in it for different reasons. In the end, it is a story of taking responsibility for one's own life. The book is considered, by the author, to be largely autobiographical, and was made into a movie in the 1960s. The movie and book have become hugely popular. The book continues to appear in the references of sociologists to America's discontented businessman.

The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit is also a 1956 film based on the Sloan Wilson novel, starring Gregory Peck and Jennifer Jones as Tom and Betsy Rath.