The Official Preppy Handbook

The Official Preppy Handbook

The Official Preppy Handbook
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Book Summary Information

Editor: Lisa Birnbach
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1980-10
ISBN: 0894801406
Number of pages: 224
Publisher: Workman Publishing

Book Reviews of The Official Preppy Handbook

Book Review: Meticulous Look at Preppy Life
Summary: 5 Stars

This book written in 1980 says that the Preppy outlook is timeless. As a non-prep, I can't vouch for all the features, but as for clothes and jobs it still holds true. Putting aside all the details in this book (which are many) is a certain "je n'est ce what the f*ck" unique to the preppy worldview that this author has revealed.

As for clothes, J.Crew 25 years later still features the same Fair Isle sweaters, the hot pink and lime green striped grosgrain belts, the loud print skirts (small prints are considered "ditsy"), and the embroidered repeating motifs on pants. All of these things that I just thought were... ugly, actually are quintessential preppy style.

As for jobs, the 2004 movie Born Rich by the Johnson & Johnson heir was made by interviewed his 20 something peers and their careers match up with those in the book: stockbroker, investment banker, art dealer, rare-book dealer (a career suggested by the filmmaker's father) and ne'er-do-well. The book covers additional career ideas such as account executive at an ad agency, editor, tennis pro, philanthropist and carpenter (PhD in philosophy preferable for the latter).

The information in this book covers every stage of preppy life from childhood to the country club years. Attention to lifestyle is paramount and this book lives up to the task by including the well bred preppy home complete with duck prints, french windows, liquor in large sized bottles and a silver cigarette box (prize for 1965 Labor Day regatta).

Prep schools themselves are covered (including the importance of getting kicked out) as are colleges. Harvard, alas, is not as prep as the ivy would imply because they often select students on academic achievement which provides for a less exclusive environment.

Middle class people often see college as a place to build a career and partying is considered recreation, but for the prep (who already has established inroads into a career due to family connections) the partying is social networking of the highest order. The social life is important and "beeritory confinement" is a bonding experience that lasts a lifetime through the later corridors of power.

Both George W. Bush and John Kerry were in Yale's secret Skull & Bones society which is covered briefly in the book along with other good college clubs. *note to self, join the A's*

All kidding aside, this is a great little book jam packed with information.

Summary of The Official Preppy Handbook

The Official Preppy Handbook is a tongue-in-cheek humor reference guide written by Jonathan Roberts, Carol McD. Wallace, Mason Wiley, and Lisa Birnbach. It discusses an aspect of North American culture described as prepdom. In addition to insights on prep school and university life at socially acceptable schools it illuminates many aspects of upper-class, old money WASP society. Topics range from appropriate clothing for social events to choosing the correct college and major.


The book's reflections on young urban professional culture inspired the founder of the J. Crew clothing line, Arthur Cinader. Cinader hoped to capitalize on the book's success. The book also represented a resurgence of interest in 'preppy' culture that aided the growth of retailer L.L. Bean. The book's exposé of university life and the drug and sex culture at various schools had a significant impact on public thought about those schools.

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