How To Lose Friends And Alienate People: A Memoir

This book is not a literary gem per se, it is a memoir of Toby Young's experience as an outsider who tried to break into the New York society of rich and famous through sometime outrages antics. He infuses dry, sarcastic British humor into the critical analysis of the American social class structure of Meritocracy. I was hooked on the book as soon as I read the first paragraph. Definitely a fun and entertaining read.

I used to hate Toby Young. In fact, his London newspaper articles used to upset me so much that I actually wrote a letter to the editor to express how much I detested Mr Young and all of his ludicrous, sexist views. Then a friend of mine lent me his book and insisted I read it. Of course, I didn't want to, but one day I picked it up and then I couldn't put it down. And by the time I had finished, my views had made a 180-degree turn. Instead of hating Toby, I wanted to be his apprentice. This book is sold as celebrity fluff, but it is actually quite a deep and quite a cerebral commentary on our modern, transatlantic society - and I think in the end, when we're all dead, it will be recognised as such. Sure, Toby's a selfish, bumbling idiot - but most men are. The difference is that most men can't write about it so beautifully and with such sharp humour.

What a great book, when you get past all the political talk at the beginning.

Great stories from a normal person trying to be someone he's not. A great fish out of water story. I loved it.

Poor Toby Young. This is the memoir of the British journalist, Toby Young, who changed tack on a promising career in London (including a stint at editing the spiky but ill fated Modern Review during which he managed to piss pretty much everyone off including Robert Maxwell) and tried to make it in New York at the Queen of glossy high society mags, Vanity Fair.

Unfortunately for Toby, he suffers, as he freely admits, from an anti charm, a quasi aspergers syndrome entailing that he offends almost anyone he encounters. In a world where looks, glamour and superficial charm are the key denominators of hierarchy, what chance does a bald, poor, rude journalist stand?

Toby Young prides himself on being obnoxious, and positive reviews claim he garners sympathy for doing so. Admittedly, some of his stories in this memoir are funny, but I didn't feel any sympathy for Toby. The people who strike him down are arrogant, superficial, and out for fame and attention at all costs - but then so is Toby. Who really wins in this bonfire of all vanities?

I suppose the dollar or so I was able to pick this thing up for here at Amazon should have told me something. Young is a really unappealing character and just not very funny. Why he has been paid to follow this thing up with a second book is way beyond me. I too hate this guy.