I don’t know why but I’ve found surprisingly few books that fall into this category.
I’m looking for stories that categorize the behavior and culture of modern upper class citizens. A lot of books are set in an upper class background, but I’m looking for a more comprehensive analysis instead of just using stereotypical “privileged” archetypes.
How are they brought up, how do they act and socialize, etc. Of course there’s lots of folk wisdom out there but I’m hoping to find something with real scientific merit.
I’m most interested in American culture but also open to other nations.
by SuccotashComplete
6 Comments
I generally read sociology but never heard any books like that… like its great to read this kind of books…recs some please
*Richistan* by Robert Frank – Like the title says, the author approached rich people as if they lived in their own country. The way an anthropologist would study a tribe in the jungle.
*All the Money in the World: How the Forbes 400 Make – and Spend – Their Fortunes* by Peter W. Bernstein and Annalyn Swan
*Isn’t That Rich?: Life Among the 1 Percent* by Richard Kirshenbaum – While the previous book is more numbers and quant-oriented, this book is more gossipy and dishy. What rich people are really like.
The book is written by an ad agency owner who is rich himself. So he has the perspective of an insider, not like a reporter or researcher. So rich people open up to him more than they would to an outsider.
A lot of the book is New York-centric, but they talk a bit about Los Angeles too.
Hope this helps.
The Peter Melrose books by Edward St Aubyn. These are semi-autobiographical and St Aubyn is properly posh. But he was also sexually abused by his father so trigger warning for that.
Cultural Hegemony in the United States by Lee Artz
The Power Elite by C Wright Mills
Old Money: The Mythology of Wealth in America by Nelson Aldrich is a classic.