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eely225's review
5.0
This might be too good. Brooks' pointed skewering of the modern day upper-middle class' mores refuses to let any aspect of that self-assured culture off the hook.
Being, myself, a member of what he calls the bobo class, the book can be a difficult read. The mirror he holds up to my own cultural presumptions is direct and unyielding.
There are so many things that we tell ourselves are part of our personality, the things that make us special snowflakes. But a lot of those drives and contrarianisms aren't based on individuality, they are based on a group reaction of being Not Like Our Parents, basically for the sake thereof. The book is amazing at highlighting that. It's probably healthy; the more we see our assumptions for what we are, the better we can stop depending on them.
It holds up surprisingly well despite the age. The only thing that doesn't is a short section on politics at the end, clearly a product of the Clinton years. But he still managed to prophesy the cultural aftershocks that came after.
I honestly can't recommend this enough. Any bobo deserves the chance to see themselves as they are.
Being, myself, a member of what he calls the bobo class, the book can be a difficult read. The mirror he holds up to my own cultural presumptions is direct and unyielding.
There are so many things that we tell ourselves are part of our personality, the things that make us special snowflakes. But a lot of those drives and contrarianisms aren't based on individuality, they are based on a group reaction of being Not Like Our Parents, basically for the sake thereof. The book is amazing at highlighting that. It's probably healthy; the more we see our assumptions for what we are, the better we can stop depending on them.
It holds up surprisingly well despite the age. The only thing that doesn't is a short section on politics at the end, clearly a product of the Clinton years. But he still managed to prophesy the cultural aftershocks that came after.
I honestly can't recommend this enough. Any bobo deserves the chance to see themselves as they are.
stephenvhenn's review against another edition
4.0
David Brooks has written a very compelling, humorous, and interesting book detailing the 'modern American elite'. It is incredibly well written and convincing in its presentation, yet very accessible. Some of the chapters go onto long and others are too short (the chapter on religion was much to short). But overall, this book does a good job of depicting America.
One major criticism I had was about the new modern America. The book is dated, written in 2000, and as such America has changed. Are the Bobo's still in power? Is America a land of moderates? Looking at the contemporary issues, the answer seem to be no.
One major criticism I had was about the new modern America. The book is dated, written in 2000, and as such America has changed. Are the Bobo's still in power? Is America a land of moderates? Looking at the contemporary issues, the answer seem to be no.
ladykate03's review against another edition
3.0
A strange, and very dated book (even though it was published fairly recently). Brooks complains about BoBo (Bohemian Bourgeois) culture, which is something that is still fairly recognizable today, but doesn't exactly provide a comprehensive analysis. The historical foundation is good but it reads a bit whiny and Brooks comes off sounding like the people who bemoan Hipster culture.
What struck me the most was when Brooks claims that politics are no longer interesting. The two parties in the US have common ground and overall have the same goals. He did not forsee this most recent election, but in a way Donald Trump's whole campaign was against BoBo culture. A vast majority of American's still don't fall into this category and Trump harnessed that anger. I'd like to read a revision in a few years, of how these trends continued to manifest themselves but in very different ways.
What struck me the most was when Brooks claims that politics are no longer interesting. The two parties in the US have common ground and overall have the same goals. He did not forsee this most recent election, but in a way Donald Trump's whole campaign was against BoBo culture. A vast majority of American's still don't fall into this category and Trump harnessed that anger. I'd like to read a revision in a few years, of how these trends continued to manifest themselves but in very different ways.
christinemark's review against another edition
4.0
A very interesting book. Nicely written. Love his concept of latte towns.
charle's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting book on sociology and history of the upper middle class - the choices of
Lifestyle, consumer habits, religious activity, politics, etc and the trends over the years. Easy to read.
Lifestyle, consumer habits, religious activity, politics, etc and the trends over the years. Easy to read.
emmyreading's review against another edition
4.0
david brooks is a pretty conservative guy, but what makes him so unique is that he's the child of new york liberals, and was super left wing until his early-to-mid 20s. now he's a conservative pundit who actually DOES understand liberals. unique.
this book is about the bohemian/bourgeois of this country(those people who think they're counter-culture because they shop at urban outfitters).
the thing i love about this book is that i am completely in agreement with brooks on his premise, but came to very different conclusions than he did.
this book is about the bohemian/bourgeois of this country(those people who think they're counter-culture because they shop at urban outfitters).
the thing i love about this book is that i am completely in agreement with brooks on his premise, but came to very different conclusions than he did.
mmkkll's review against another edition
4.0
A fascinating cultural study by a notable NYTimes columnist. It is highly readable and not at all pithy.
kadiehaywardmullins's review against another edition
3.0
Bring on the era of the new yuppie, the more educated, less established (at least genealogically anyway), and more social-conscious (if only in ideals rather than in practice). Where the bourgeois lifestyle meets bohemian counterculture, you find the Bobo. Brooks considers the merging of these seemingly conflicting lifestyles that so many of today’s educated elite have appeared to master; or, at least, attempted to. Using enough research (read: a bit too much) to make the text appropriate for undergraduate sociology students (sipping their non-fat, soy lattes made with ethically sourced coffee beans out of a reusable mug) to back up his assertions, Brooks humorous cultural analysis rings as true today in 2018 as it did when published in 2000. Well, maybe not ‘true’ entirely but it certainly resonates. Who can really say what is true anymore these days anyway?
Comparing the elite social establishment of yesteryear to the burgeoning class of newly-monied, educated, and ‘enlightened,’ we get the sense Brooks is firmly in favor of the Bobo upper class of today but this doesn’t mean he fails to criticize, with wit and candor, Bobos as well. Sure, maybe Bobos have more aware social perspectives than the upper class at the turn of the 19th century but what are they actually doing with that awareness? It certainly doesn’t seem to be a practice of introspection. Brooks commentary, if feeling a bit self-deprecating at times, highlights the cognitive dissonance present in so many facets of life for those lucky enough to find their way into the upper class in today’s world.
Though certain examples feel a bit outdated (the world has changed a lot in the last two decades), the underlying thesis is not lost to time. An enjoyable read, Bobos in Paradise isn’t the in-depth critical analysis you might expect but rather, quippy social commentary. And you may not agree with Brooks, but I’d wager he’ll at least may you stop and think for a moment.
Comparing the elite social establishment of yesteryear to the burgeoning class of newly-monied, educated, and ‘enlightened,’ we get the sense Brooks is firmly in favor of the Bobo upper class of today but this doesn’t mean he fails to criticize, with wit and candor, Bobos as well. Sure, maybe Bobos have more aware social perspectives than the upper class at the turn of the 19th century but what are they actually doing with that awareness? It certainly doesn’t seem to be a practice of introspection. Brooks commentary, if feeling a bit self-deprecating at times, highlights the cognitive dissonance present in so many facets of life for those lucky enough to find their way into the upper class in today’s world.
Though certain examples feel a bit outdated (the world has changed a lot in the last two decades), the underlying thesis is not lost to time. An enjoyable read, Bobos in Paradise isn’t the in-depth critical analysis you might expect but rather, quippy social commentary. And you may not agree with Brooks, but I’d wager he’ll at least may you stop and think for a moment.
fredsphere's review
5.0
Definitely worth reading. It's 17 years old now, and much of the material has been stolen by others and expanded. Also, the description near the end of an emerging political consensus of moderation has been eradicated (to the extent it was true to begin with). Still, a great piece of work, with sharper humor than I would have expected from Brooks.