[shrinkermd]

I am an old man without enough to do. Lately, I have taken an interest in "social class" as an important consideration in individual and group dynamics. I do book reviews both for my children and myself.

I have posted Magnet's The Dream and the Nightmare. This book documents the "underclass." President Bush believes this book is only second in importance to the Bible. Some believe, it was instrumental in forcing President Clinton to sign the Welfare Reform Bill in 1996 It can be found HERE

Also posted is Richard Florida's The Rise of the Creative Class. This book can be found HERE

Like Florida's book linked below, David Brooks documents the upper-middle class in contemporary America. He does this better than anyone else. He also provides a way to assess conservativism as a type of temperament rather than ideology. In this he preceded Pinker who has a similar view --tragic vs. utopian temperaments.

I have previously posted Pinker's book on the Blank Slate. This book documents the biological basis of human nature and what this means for individuals of a liberal persuasion. You can find Pinker's book HERE</P

[elbucko]

He also provides a way to assess conservativism as a type of temperament rather than ideology.

I agree with that. In some ways, conservative is the opposite of neurotic.

Spending $300 for a toaster when a $30 toaster is adequate, could be considered a bit neurotic.

[Question_Assumptions]

bump for later.

[I_Love_My_Husband]

Very interesting article.

I understand about the toaster thing though. We cook a lot and we want good kitchen utensils, etc.

[Liberal Classic]

David Brooks asserts there is a new upper class. He claims this "upper class" is an amalgam of bourgeois and bohemian values. He describes this alleged new class with the neologism "bobo."

...

Not only is Mr. Brooks a master, erudite wordsmith, but he is also entertaining.

I am not sure I would call "bobo" the result of masterful erudition. I think the author is suffering from an irony deficiency.

[Katya]

Apt description....Here in DC Bobo's work for non-profits, left wing Feel(think) tanks, or work as consultants to consultants...the extreme wing lives in Takoma Park, MD. They buy older Victorians mansions to fix up, pass laws making it illegal to renovate these historic houses without historic board approvals. Yet, the back of these houses have all been secretly altered with monster decks/additions etc....because all laws apply to someone else.

[steve-b]

The public forgave President Clinton after the Lewinsky imbroglio: this was shocking to some. Makes sense if you remember the dominant, educated class is tolerant to a fault, no other person was injured

Nonsense. Clinton's crime was not getting a blow job; it was perjuring himself in order to avoid accountability for his sexual harassment of Paula Jones. Obviously, this injured Jones, who was denied her day in court.