The Official Filthy Rich Handbook

to navigating the waters of the UHNWers (ultra-high net worth)! This book is both hilarious and very in-depth...an excellent reference guide. To be brief--I loved this book. I love the witticisms, but what I love even more is how thoroughly (though tongue-in-cheek) the author goes into how the wealthy spend, stash, and play. Very interesting and informative. And if you're at all ambitious, you'd do well to make notes of where and how you can run into these people (from the internet startup kids to supermodels to Russian oligarchs). I notice that a lot of people have great disdain for the 1%, but that doesn't apply to me as I'm looking to become even wealthier. I wanted to read something that could put me in the mind of someone of this social class. I want to know everything about them: what they eat, what they discuss, how they engage in philanthropy, how many generations back does their wealth go? This book, along with a few others, gives you a bird's eye view right into their world, and I'm happy to have it in my collection. If you're as curious as I am with a healthy sense of humor, buy this. If you believe that the 1% really are "filthy", eh...this book may just ruin your day. Just sayin'.

I read this book long ago and I wanted it in my collection. I love personality archetypes which is why I bought it but it’s also funny and insightful

THE OFFICIAL FILTHY RICH HANDBOOK, (How The Other .0001%), has just about anything any "would-be richee" would want! Good paper! Devastating wit and delightful humour! Lots and lots of pictures! THE places to patronize, in almost every area a Richee would want to go -- including addresses, telephone numbers, and websites! The names of famous Richees to choose from, to emulate! Where to work, where to play -- and where to live! And HOW to live! How to talk! What to wear! A VERY full index! A history of historic Richee parties, (although I noted that the Venice Ball, attended by Princess Grace of Monaco and many other celebrities, which was featured in full colour pictures in LIFE Magazine at the time, was somehow not mentioned.) No matter! It is SO chock full of goodies to look at and read, (and research!), that it should make any REAL Richee nervous, that all this information is now available to almost anyoone who can buy a used copy on Amazon, (or, heavens! -- go to the public library!) And make any Aspiring Richee drool with anticipation and delight -- and encourage such Aspiring Richee to work ever harder to accomplishing her or his goals! As wealth usually brings choices, there is, herein, not just information on one lifestyle offered -- but a true smorgasboard of delightful ideas -- to pick and choose from, as one's whims, (and bank accounts), permit! Mr. Tennant also uses gentle satire to get his points across -- as only an "in-the-know", insider person, of this calas, can! This book conatins GENUINE INFORMATION -- no doubt whatsoever about that! $ : ) PLUS...... I don't know if the author, CHRISTOPHER TENNANT, is relatd to "THE Tennants" of the U.K. -- but I do know, (from my own copious reading about the English Royal Family), that there IS, in reality, a family, with this very last name, that is part of the whirl of English High Society! Although, on the last page of the book, it is revealed that the Mr. Tennant who wrote this book IS an American, I suspct STRONGLY that he has at least tenuous relationship with the famous Tennant family of England! Why, then, only four stars for this book? BECAUSE IT IS QUITE, QUITE SMALL....AND THE print size INSIDE IT SEEMINGLY EVEN SMALLER! For shame! Couldn't this book at least have been of the same size as it's grund-breaking predecessor, THE OFFICIAL PREPPY HANDBOOK, published whist, (or prehaps, very soon after), the film "Love Story" first was in the movie-theatres? Surely, the presnt recession isn't THAT bad that the size of this book had to be shrunk? The aim of ANY book is obviously, to be bought and read! With so many of the younger generation, (who usually have the keenest eyesight), sadly (still), off on "hippie kicks", what with single-mtherhood, and fatherhood, (out of choice), "shacking up", inter-ratial marriages, (and inter-racial "shacking up"), crime, (and general mayhem), up amongst the youngest generation -- who COULD read such a book...but in all probabliity don't want to; whilst "Baby Boomers", and older generations -- people who might very much want to read this book, (as age, usually, brings wisdom), will find it difficult, if not impossible to read...because of the aforesaid small size, and even smaller-size print! Winston Churchill once said that if a person isn't a liberal during his or her youth, than they have NO HEART; and if they aren't a conservative as they grow older, then they have NO HEAD! Of course, many people do not fall into this generalization -- but a good proportion do. Sadly, eyesight often dwindles as one gets older...and wants to be rich, (and perhaps philantrophic), instead of wanting to take a vow of poverty, or live a bohemian lifestyle, or join a commune -- etc. The older a person is, (generally), the more he or she will want to read this book. Sadly, with the print size the way it is, the older a person is, (generally), the more difficult they will find the reading of this book. So -- when a new edition comes out -- with then more up-to-date, and equally fascinating info on "how the other .0001% lives"), my earnest request is to ENLARGE THE PAPER SIZE -- AND PRINT-SIZE -- OF THIS BOOK! Hopefully, the wonderful quality paper of the present edition can be used, as well, in the larger, "OFFICIAL PREPPY HANDBOOK" -size, of any follwing editions. ................................................................... P.S. It is a source of wonder, (and some amusement), to me, to see that both "THE OFFICIAL FILTHY RICH HANDBOOK", being reviewed here, and it's delightful predecessor, "THE OFFICIAL PREPPY HANDBOOK", were both published by................WORKMAN PUBLISHING. Of course, the publishing house probably has this name because the CEO has the last name of "Workman" -- but still, it is, I think -- for a company publishing these sorts of books -- a somewhat whimsical name? Or -- is it just a wonderful indication, that the Amerian Dream is still alive and well? : )

Likeable

The physical book with its Michelin-looking wrapper is typical of Workman publishing quality: substantial,smart,impressive, chic. On leafing through the first few pages, it is quickly apparent where the inspiration and format for this book came from; Lisa Birnbach would be flattered. Although wittily written, by today's standards, it lacks the warmth and charm of its predecessor. Although dealing with the cousins of the Prep genre, describing the filthy rich requires, and has the required amount of cynicism, but the constant over-the-top descriptions of fabulous wealth tends to leave the reader numb and distenced, largly unable to relate (which is the point of it all) to the class, something that almost anyone reading Preppy could share. Fun, but tiring after 100 pages.

I hate to admit it, but the "filthy rich" just intrigue me so this book caught my eye. I thought it was hilarious. Did I pick up any tips that will increase my wealth...probably not. Did I spend a great evening being entertained and laughing out loud...YES! Will I pick this book up again when I walk by my bookcase...yes. There are some practical tips for those who like to be in the know. For instance, the section entitled "A Voice Filled With Money" tells you how to correctly pronounce words like Hermes, Moet and Cannes (again, I hate to admit it, but although I consider myself well-read, I have been pronouncing these words wrong. Color my face red!) This book is a quick read with one page "sections" on items of interest. Great black and white photos and tongue in cheek prose. I consider this book to be the encyclopedic version of E! Entertainment with a smart-ass kick.

This magnificent book is written by Christopher Tennant. And there are a lot of good reviews about it. For example, P.J. Rourke said, "There are three kinds of humour. PARODY, where you make fun of people who are smarter than you. SATIRE, where you make fun of people who are richer than you. And BURLESQUE, where you do both while TAKING OFF your clothes. The Official Filthy Rich Handbook is A PARAGON OF NAKED WIT". Jamie Johnson, Director, Born Rich related, "Tennant covers it all in this TRULY HILARIOUS GUIDE to the world of the super-rich. You laugh from the first line through the last, yet you feel like you are learning something new with the turn of every page. It is undoubtedly the most fun, authentic, and THOROUGH REFERENCE BOOK ON THE WEALTHY to hit shelves in recent years". And finally, Dominick Denne summarises this book as follows "I had a wonderful time reading The Official Filthy Rich Handbook. I learned a lot of things I didn't know, and chuckled at Christopher Tennant's extraordinary wealth of UPPER-CLASS INFORMATION".

I enjoyed this silly handbook about the über rich. Reading it, I never laughed out loud but did smile. I also learned some interesting trivia, such as the fact that actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus' father has an estimated $3.4 billion fortune. Get out! The book opens with the Plutocrat Primer, a welcome to the newly wealthy. A field guide to the filthy rich diagrams some common types, such as The Wastrel, The Nerdling, The Impresario and The Heirhead, whose patron saint is Paris Hilton. Some sections seem like an actual handbook, though, and aren't funny. A five-page Members Only segment lists and describes actual country clubs by such categories as how long the wait list is to join, and who some of the famous members are. Each chapter has a directory with contact information on actual businesses that cater to wealthy customers. Did you know you can buy Almas caviar that comes from a 100-year-old beluga sturgeon for $25,000 a tin from the Caviar House in London? I didn't, and didn't care. Far better are the acidly cynical segments that skewer the shallow rich, such as the piece about plastic surgery called "Daddy, I Hate My Nose!" Another piece teaches you what to say for your cover story after liposuction makes it appear you've lost a ton of post-childbirth weight: "It's so true what they say. Breast-feeding torches the calories!" Here's the chapter list: 1. The Plutocrat Primer: Meet your new friends 2. Where to Live: Homing patterns 3. It Takes a Village: The art of staffing up 4. Buying a Better You: Looking the part 5. The Social Whirl: Out & about 6. Travel & Leisure: Summer is a verb 7. Float Some & Jet Some: Tycoons on the move 8. Playgrounds & Pastimes: Get a hobby 9. To Heir is Divine: Billionaire breeding habits 10. Afflictions & Pretensions: Surviving at the top

So funny and so true! Completely relevant to nowadays and in many ways to days gone by. At times sarcastic and caustic very high dose of realism and again truly funny as in I laughed out loud reading it several times.

Tennant's book really hit the spot, with its witty prose and juicy tidbits. I was looking for a description of the customs and habits of the top .01% (wealth-wise), and this satisfied my curiosity while being thoroughly entertaining. As a child, I loved "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" and Tennant's book offers that sort of glimpse into a world that is nearly surreal to us work-a-day types. What I found surprising was the breadth and depth in his coverage of the subject matter. I was impressed with the details of the monotonous decadence, and the varieties of indulgence. His tongue-in-cheek narrative made it all the more approachable. Absolutely a guilty pleasure!

De verkoper heeft per ongeluk een gebruikt boek verstuurd, maar reageerde zeer proactief en correct op mijn berichten. Uiteindelijk werd een gedeeltelijke restitutie aangeboden, wat ik een goede oplossing vond. Alles is netjes afgehandeld.

Always so very interesting to read about the wealthy. Never what the average person thinks OR what the media portrays the wealthy to be. Also, read The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley (it's the absolute best book out there on millionaires).

Where can I find this lifestyle!? Some amusing, fun and expensive ideas and recommendations - I now just need to win the lotto!