Why read The Official Preppy Handbook?

Book cover of The Official Preppy Handbook

Book description

A facetious guide to emulating the look, speech patterns, thinking, and lifestyle of those who attend prep schools and are a part of high society

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Official Preppy Handbook as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Maureen Callahan

Author

I find WASP culture absurd and fascinating. I love that rich people, really rich people, have a fixation with stickers, slapping abbreviations for Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket or East Hampton on their luxury vehicles even though said luxury vehicles, parked in said locales, really should say it all. Such is the taxonomy writ large in Lisa Birnbach’s seminal Preppy Handbook, which explores other WASP signifiers such as “the politics of monogramming,” the elevation of old clothes over new, and what your choice of private schools, charities and vacation spots says about you. Pairs well with Take Ivy, a…

From Maureen's list on The best books on American pop culture.