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A review by drusilla_reads
Class: A Guide Through the American Status System by Paul Fussell
Did not finish book.
1.0
DNF. The description says "Based on careful research and told with grace and wit..." which as far as I can determine is—lies.
I was really interested in this book, it came highly recommend, but I can't fathom why. I made it through the first chapter and a half before starting to skip around, looking to see if the subject developed or the tone changed—it didn't. It actually got worse. After some mildly interesting points in chapter one, this book devolved into gleeful, mean-spirited, finger-pointing. Now I knew it was supposed to be satire when I picked it up, and I'm perfectly down for a little middle-class bashing, and taking my own lumps when they come, but this was vapid and not even very funny.
I was expecting some humor and light sociology, but the entire book seemed to consist of a list of very spesific things that earmarked the American middle class in the '80s. If there was any solid theory underpinning the book it might still be quite relevant now, but there wasn't so it just seems laughably dated. The last chapter is devoted to the author inventing an imaginary perfect "classless" class right down to explaining how they should decorate their living rooms. A perfect class which he then puts himself and his friends in. It's unbelievable.
I didn't even bother to donate this book. I just trashed it. There wasn't anything there worth reading.
I was really interested in this book, it came highly recommend, but I can't fathom why. I made it through the first chapter and a half before starting to skip around, looking to see if the subject developed or the tone changed—it didn't. It actually got worse. After some mildly interesting points in chapter one, this book devolved into gleeful, mean-spirited, finger-pointing. Now I knew it was supposed to be satire when I picked it up, and I'm perfectly down for a little middle-class bashing, and taking my own lumps when they come, but this was vapid and not even very funny.
I was expecting some humor and light sociology, but the entire book seemed to consist of a list of very spesific things that earmarked the American middle class in the '80s. If there was any solid theory underpinning the book it might still be quite relevant now, but there wasn't so it just seems laughably dated. The last chapter is devoted to the author inventing an imaginary perfect "classless" class right down to explaining how they should decorate their living rooms. A perfect class which he then puts himself and his friends in. It's unbelievable.
I didn't even bother to donate this book. I just trashed it. There wasn't anything there worth reading.