True Prep: Loving update or abomination?

[gorgekko]

I was rather surprised that no one had started a thread -- well, SF's search showed nothing -- about Lisa Birnbach's new book True Prep. My copy arrived in the post yesterday so I haven't finished it but even a few pages in I knew it was just bad.

I realize The Official Preppy Handbook was a tongue in cheek parody of prepdom -- even while it was a loving tribute -- but True Prep reads like Birnbach considered her earlier work to be Class: A Guide Through the American Status System by Paul Fussell and decided to update it with non-humorous humour.

 

[Don Carlos]

Not a fan of the update. She takes too many liberties in concessions to modern times. Prep is, in some ways, the antithesis of modern. And yet, every page features some in-joke or timely reference to very-current events (Gossip Girl, Facebook, Obama, etc.). This is sure to date the book laughably in a few years' time.

It also seems as if she's brand-whoring the hell out of this edition. If some company -- say, Vineyard Vines -- paid her for inclusion in the book, I wouldn't be surprised.

 

[RyJ Maduro]

Vineyard Vines definitely belongs in any book about modern prepdom. The Obamas?

No.

 

[robin]

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I'm pretty sure Chip Kidd is Connemara's soul mate.

 

[Don Carlos]

Originally Posted by RyJ Maduro

Vineyard Vines definitely belongs in any book about modern prepdom.

It's all well and good to include a brand. But to give a brand a prolonged and unsubtle ** is another thing altogether. It just seemed unsavory, as if bought and paid for.

 

[gorgekko]

Originally Posted by Arrogant Bastard

It's all well and good to include a brand. But to give a brand a prolonged and unsubtle ** is another thing altogether. It just seemed unsavory, as if bought and paid for.

And there are quite a few mentions of VV and a profile of the founders.

 

[bigbris1]

I'm sorry but Michelle is dumb ugly.

 

[Connemara]

Originally Posted by robin

IMPORTANT NOTICE: No media files are hosted on these forums. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. We can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. If the video does not play, wait a minute or try again later. I AGREE

TIP: to embed Youtube clips, put only the encoded part of the Youtube URL, e.g. eBGIQ7ZuuiU between the tags. I'm pretty sure Chip Kidd is Connemara's soul mate.
His glasses are

 

[montecristo#4]

The Obama's are about as far from preppy as Kim Jong Il.

This book is clearly an utter fail.

 

[gorgekko]

I did have a good laugh when I saw in the recommended preppy reading list Barack Obama's Dreams From My Father. Ha ha, a true preppy classic.