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Reviews
Billionaire Wilderness: The Ultra-Wealthy and the Remaking of the American West by Justin Farrell
jshuman19's review against another edition
3.0
Good information and an interesting topic but the writing style was very repetitive. Between repeated phrases and continuously telling the reader what was going to be explained in the next page, this book could've been 50 pages shorter.
eamcmahon3's review against another edition
5.0
A critical look at the ultra wealthy and their impact on the environment, society, and more.
It felt like I was ready a very long thesis (in the best way possible)
It felt like I was ready a very long thesis (in the best way possible)
mollynelsonregan's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.0
Interesting anthropological exploration of the wealth divide in Teton County.
niniane's review against another edition
4.5
The author is a Yale professor and grew up as a Wyoming rancher. He used this to interview many wealthy people and their servants in Teton County.
I was surprised by the methods that wealthy people use to assuage their guilt. One is using a strawman of painting all lower-income people as Caucasian ski bums who chose to prioritize skiing over work. They say thus anyone who lacks money "chose" that life.
Apparently the wealthy people in Tetons carefully wear jeans and shirts to look like the working class. They also refer to their fishing guide, butcher, etc as their friends. But those people do not at all think it is a friendship. It is a one-sided work relationship.
The wealthy people feel like they gave up so much authenticity to make their billions. Now they really want to get back authenticity by wearing jeans and thinking their servants are "friends". But they would never go visit their friends (who live in a tiny place 1.5 hours away). It is usually hiring their "friend" to work for them.
I was surprised by the methods that wealthy people use to assuage their guilt. One is using a strawman of painting all lower-income people as Caucasian ski bums who chose to prioritize skiing over work. They say thus anyone who lacks money "chose" that life.
Apparently the wealthy people in Tetons carefully wear jeans and shirts to look like the working class. They also refer to their fishing guide, butcher, etc as their friends. But those people do not at all think it is a friendship. It is a one-sided work relationship.
The wealthy people feel like they gave up so much authenticity to make their billions. Now they really want to get back authenticity by wearing jeans and thinking their servants are "friends". But they would never go visit their friends (who live in a tiny place 1.5 hours away). It is usually hiring their "friend" to work for them.
dakotious's review
challenging
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Fantastic book. Don't read if you don't want to get angry.