The Official Preppy Handbook
Jun. 27th, 2019 03:09 pmAges ago, ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
annikusrex and I went to the Annual Seattle Public Library Used Book Sale. I think that was maybe back during freshman or sophomore year of high school? The Book Sale was held in some huge warehouse space in Magnuson Park. A glorious space, full of cheap used books.
One of the books that we encountered and gleefully paged through was called The Official Preppy Handbook. I have forever kicked myself for not buying it then and there for 50 cents or whatever. The section on sports began by saying something like, "Crew is the ultimate prep sport." Hilarious because it was accurate. Also hilarious because being preppy was supposedly an exclusive thing, yet here were directions on how to become that way.
Strangely enough, today this particular weird book got mentioned in the NYT's Daily Briefing, because its author apparently has connections to the person who has recently accused the current president of sexual assault.
The Wikipedia page is fun: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Official_Preppy_Handbook
I'd never realized the book was such a big deal. Clearly, by the time A and I encountered it, it was no longer deemed particularly popular or relevant. Seattle was deeply into grunge by then (mid-90's).
Is it possible for preppy-ness to be ironic?
annikusrex and I went to the Annual Seattle Public Library Used Book Sale. I think that was maybe back during freshman or sophomore year of high school? The Book Sale was held in some huge warehouse space in Magnuson Park. A glorious space, full of cheap used books.One of the books that we encountered and gleefully paged through was called The Official Preppy Handbook. I have forever kicked myself for not buying it then and there for 50 cents or whatever. The section on sports began by saying something like, "Crew is the ultimate prep sport." Hilarious because it was accurate. Also hilarious because being preppy was supposedly an exclusive thing, yet here were directions on how to become that way.
Strangely enough, today this particular weird book got mentioned in the NYT's Daily Briefing, because its author apparently has connections to the person who has recently accused the current president of sexual assault.
The Wikipedia page is fun: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Official_Preppy_Handbook
I'd never realized the book was such a big deal. Clearly, by the time A and I encountered it, it was no longer deemed particularly popular or relevant. Seattle was deeply into grunge by then (mid-90's).
Is it possible for preppy-ness to be ironic?
