I became intrigued by this book after reading a couple magazine blurbs about this book. I actually love these kinds of books; they're can be useful, funny, and great reads at the beach or on an airplane. It looked interesting enough: someone who's often at parties and events around the world, hob-nobbing with the rich and the Botoxed, bestowing advice on what it means to be classy and the lack of this characteristic today. I figured the book would be full of insights from someone who associates with the upper crust, providing a unique perspective on the age old line, "Money doesn't buy class."
Unfortunately, if you read the premise above, sit for 5 minutes, and think about what YOU would write if you were the author of such a book, you'd be right on target. Everything in the book is quite predictable and even pedestrian. Tips for shopping online? Research to make sure the store is legit. Don't respond to unsolicited e-mails asking for your personal information. Doesn't everyone pretty much know this? Blasberg also provides a handy little chart that illustrates the logos of some luxury brands (e.g., Chanel, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, etc.), cautioning people to read the bag labels carefully so you don't end up buying a "Prado" instead of a Prada. Really? He even has a section on drugs (basically, don't do them) and cigarettes (don't smoke; they're bad for you, too). Don't get me wrong, his advice is sound, but it's nothing you didn't know already via common sense: don't be mean to servers because they could retaliate by spitting in your food; don't be rude to the people cleaning your hotel room because they could do horrible things to your toothbrush; don't send naked photos of yourself because they could end up all over the internet; don't pole-dance at a party because you're not Kate Moss; ad infinitum.
I hope the book would make up for the lack of insight on the advice department by adding some illuminating commentary on the elite he hangs with. Why is Kate Moss and similar people exempt from the rules (besides the simple declaration that she's a supermodel)? But, alas, nothing. The book is good eye candy, though. There are some funny pictures with a model demonstrating what's classy (a classic bag, boots, well-groomed hair) and what's not (thongs exposed under Juicy pants, Uggs, messy hair), but these are more for entertainment than for your edification; you could get the same kind of pictures by reading a few issues of MARIE CLAIRE.
I recommend this book for a bare-bones etiquette primer for a teenager who has absolute no common sense whatsoever. Nil. None. I mean, if you know a teenager who doesn't understand that her naked pictures could possibly end up on the internet once her two-week-old relationship expires, get her this book. If she doesn't know that posting her full address and phone number on Facebook is unwise, buy her this book. If she doesn't know that belching loudly, showing her thong, and dry humping that cute guy at grandma's dinner party might be a bad idea, then, by all means, by her this book.
On a positive note, if you feel you need a very basic starter list for books, art pieces, photographers, and films you feel you "should" know about but don't, you can find that here. It's not comprehensive at all, but Blasberg does include several note-worthy people and titles that will get any newbie off to a good start.
I really, really wanted to like this book. The author is interesting, the layout is great, and the pictures pique your interest. But it turned out to be filled with fluff. It's like reading air most of the time. This book reads more like those advice columns they have in OK! MAGAZINE (which offers such sage wisdom like, 'If it's hot, drink some ice tea to cool you down...put it in a nice cup and pretend you're on vacation at a resort'). Blasberg validates his sections by pointing out how his celebrity friends do this or that without adding any fruitful explanations. For example, he has an elite friend who is an absolute banshee to people in the service industry. All he can offer is to tell you not to do that. It'd be much more interesting if he elaborated on why he hangs around with such rude people. If he had owned up to this and had written how he hangs with these people because he sees an advantage in doing so, then at least he could give us a useful section about networking from his unique point of view. It would be pertinent to this day and age, where so many people worship celebrities in spite of their flaws. I'd flip through this at a bookstore for the pictures, but I wouldn't recommend taking it home. Chances are, you already know the advice bestowed within.
