It appears the upcoming release of the mostly-tongue-in-cheek (but not always!) “Filthy Rich Handbook” is creating a bit of a buzz. Oh my. Well, why not, we ask? Aptly subtitled “How the Other .0001% Live,” it is written by Christopher Tennant, one of the original founders of Radar.com magazine and website. The book, due out June 12, is amazingly akin to The Official Preppy Handbook (imagine that!) to which The Princess says, and….? Isn’t there something about imitation and flattery? Are we not feeling the love? Now there are *fabulous* profiles, such as “The Raider: Want a Friend? Buy a Dog” and “The Hedger: It’s Not Enough to Succeed, Others Must Fail,” and as seen above, “The Heiress: What More Can I Give?,” all of them more than entertaining. Is it tasteless and vulgar and crass? Of course. Is it possible we may have material for a future Anti-Prep posting or two? More than likely.
Below is a review from Vanity Fair and then a pre-pub blurb from Workman, the actual publisher, followed by a profile of The Nerdling as seen in the book.
Vanity Fair : “[A] decadent road map to help you navigate through private-school admissions, choppy regatta waters, and the global social circuit.”
“Fortunately, in the spirit of The Official Preppy Handbook—the 1.3-million-copy bestseller that taught all of us how to be WASPily top drawer—help has arrived. A dead-on, deadpan guide to living large in the land of plenty, The Official Filthy Rich Handbook yanks the monogrammed pashmina off a world few mortals ever get to see.”
Now, for all of us MAPS (Midwestern American Princesses), we might take note of the fact that The Heiress is actually none other than Julia Allison of Star fame; she is the magazine’s Editor-at-Large and she also lists herself as a Dating Columnist for Time Out New York. (Seen below with Brooke Parkhurst, once on Fox News Channel, posing for a Gawker pic.) Ms. Allison is neither an Heiress nor filthy rich, but she is something of a celeb in town.
The Princess thinks this will be a great beach read, likely to draw a few giggles and perhaps some outrageously inappropriate cackles. If you are reclining next to us on said stretch of sand, we apologize in advance for any outbursts.
Tags: preppy, preppy lifestyle, preppy style, rich, filthy rich, preppy handbook, preppies handbook, Julia Allison, Brooke Parkhurst
May 12, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Looks like a great book to have sitting around for others to look through! Thanks for the tip… I think it looks quite comical
May 12, 2008 at 9:23 pm
I’ve never read a tongue-in-cheek book like this before, perhaps I will give it a peek-through.
May 12, 2008 at 10:06 pm
If I’m not mistaken, Workman also published the Preppy Handbook (betraying my old age). Can’t wait. Ordering one now!
May 14, 2008 at 1:16 am
Ok, I have dibs on “The Official Going Broke Handbook (How to Move to NYC and Incur Debt).”
May 14, 2008 at 1:50 am
You know, CotdAzurist makes a good point about the publisher and FashionHerald is ever-so-smart to grab dibs on her next bestseller. (Maybe she will want to share her residuals with the little people, like TP…?)
May 14, 2008 at 4:18 am
This looks like a fun read! Another great one is Class by Paul Fussell.
May 14, 2008 at 3:55 pm
I saw the article in Vanity Fair and I laughed out loud at the sampling. My favorite was the passion of The Heiress: giving back. LOL.