Class: A Guide Through the American Status System
by: Paul Fussell
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In Class Paul Fussell explodes the sacred American myth of social equality with eagle-eyed irreverence and iconoclastic wit. This bestselling, superbly researched, exquisitely observed guide to the signs, symbols, and customs of the American class system is always outrageously on the mark as Fussell shows us how our status is revealed by everything we do, say, and own. He describes the houses, objects, artifacts, speech, clothing styles, and intellectual proclivities of American classes from the top to the bottom and everybody -- you'll surely recognize yourself -- in between. Class is guaranteed to amuse and infuriate, whether your class is so high it's out of sight (literally) or you are, alas, a sinking victim of prole drift.
In Class Paul Fussell explodes the sacred American myth of social equality with eagle-eyed irreverence and iconoclastic wit. This bestselling, superbly researched, exquisitely observed guide to the signs, symbols, and customs of the American class system is always outrageously on the mark as Fussell shows us how our status is revealed by everything we do, say, and own. He describes the houses, objects, artifacts, speech, clothing styles, and intellectual proclivities of American classes from the top to the bottom and everybody -- you'll surely recognize yourself -- in between. Class is guaranteed to amuse and infuriate, whether your class is so high it's out of sight (literally) or you are, alas, a sinking victim of prole drift.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- guide for judging people you haven't even met
If you want to know how to judge your fellow man based on his appearance rather than his qualities, then this book is for you.Caution: it also contains objectionable language.
Rating: 
- Cruel but in many parts accurate
Since this book deals with a forbidden subject, the honesty that the author shows is laudable. Many of his observations are quite accurate; however, they are also fairly superficial and incomplete. One senses this is not a book written with the intent of being taken seriously, which makes the size of its readership alarming.
The author shows his lack of broad experience in the limited geographic areas referenced (mostly U.S. northeastern) and citations about the "invisible upper" class ... Read More
Rating: 
- Get it
One of the most important non-fiction books I've read in the last 20 years. Extremely shrewd, perceptive and certainly funny
Rating: - Funniest Book I've Ever Read
Fussell really knows how to use wit and satire to go after the various socioeconomic groups in America. My Mom suggested I give it a look, so when I was right out of college and substitute teaching, I read the book while my students were busy doing their own work. Needless to say my random bursts of laughter confused them...I laughed over and over and over again.
Despite the book being written over twenty years ago, the same descriptions of "proles" and other groups are just as true now ... Read More
Rating: - Yes, yes, yes, yesssssssssssss!
Almost as good as sex.Whenever I feel blue, I pull this book into bed with me and laugh until I fall asleep.My daughter (born during the year of the first printing of CLASS...twenty-some years ago) has found many clues to life in this book.I... have a secret... I admit to wearing ankle-length purple polyester dresses with a small amount of Lycra, but no sheen.This style (used in the loosest sense of the word) goes with my x characteristics and looks better on me than that preppy crap as I wander ... Read More
- guide for judging people you haven't even metIf you want to know how to judge your fellow man based on his appearance rather than his qualities, then this book is for you.Caution: it also contains objectionable language.
- Cruel but in many parts accurateSince this book deals with a forbidden subject, the honesty that the author shows is laudable. Many of his observations are quite accurate; however, they are also fairly superficial and incomplete. One senses this is not a book written with the intent of being taken seriously, which makes the size of its readership alarming.
The author shows his lack of broad experience in the limited geographic areas referenced (mostly U.S. northeastern) and citations about the "invisible upper" class ... Read More
- Get itOne of the most important non-fiction books I've read in the last 20 years. Extremely shrewd, perceptive and certainly funny
- Funniest Book I've Ever ReadFussell really knows how to use wit and satire to go after the various socioeconomic groups in America. My Mom suggested I give it a look, so when I was right out of college and substitute teaching, I read the book while my students were busy doing their own work. Needless to say my random bursts of laughter confused them...I laughed over and over and over again.
Despite the book being written over twenty years ago, the same descriptions of "proles" and other groups are just as true now ... Read More
- Yes, yes, yes, yesssssssssssss!Almost as good as sex.Whenever I feel blue, I pull this book into bed with me and laugh until I fall asleep.My daughter (born during the year of the first printing of CLASS...twenty-some years ago) has found many clues to life in this book.I... have a secret... I admit to wearing ankle-length purple polyester dresses with a small amount of Lycra, but no sheen.This style (used in the loosest sense of the word) goes with my x characteristics and looks better on me than that preppy crap as I wander ... Read More
