In Defense of Elitism

Why I'm Better Than You and You're Better Than Someone Who Didn't Buy This Book

By: Joel Stein

Narrated by: Joel Stein

Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

From Thurber finalist and former star Time columnist Joel Stein comes a "brilliant exploration" (Walter Isaacson) of America's political culture war and a hilarious call to arms for the elite.

"I can think of no one more suited to defend elitism than Stein, a funny man with hands as delicate as a baby full of soft-boiled eggs."—Jimmy Kimmel, host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!

The night Donald Trump won the presidency, our author Joel Stein, Thurber Prize finalist and former staff writer for Time Magazine, instantly knew why. The main reason wasn't economic anxiety or racism. It was that he was anti-elitist. Hillary Clinton represented Wall Street, academics, policy papers, Davos, international treaties and the people who think they're better than you. People like Joel Stein. Trump represented something far more appealing, which was beating up people like Joel Stein.

In a full-throated defense of academia, the mainstream press, medium-rare steak, and civility, Joel Stein fights against populism. He fears a new tribal elite is coming to replace him, one that will fend off expertise of all kinds and send the country hurtling backward to a time of wars, economic stagnation and the well-done steaks doused with ketchup that Trump eats.

To find out how this shift happened and what can be done, Stein spends a week in Roberts County, Texas, which had the highest percentage of Trump voters in the country. He goes to the home of Trump-loving Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams; meets people who create fake news; and finds the new elitist organizations merging both right and left to fight the populists. All the while using the biggest words he knows.

©2019 Joel Stein (P)2019 Grand Central Publishing

Critic reviews

"With this indispensable book, Joel Stein firmly establishes himself as the Ted Nugent of elitism."—Andy Borowitz, New York Times bestselling author and writer of The Borowitz Report

"Every paragraph of this book will make you laugh, but it will also (I promise) change the way you think. Joel has written a brilliant exploration of the supposed divide between elites and populists, cleverly disguised as a humorous personal excursion. Like Don Quixote he forays into perilous territory, his lance at his side, and what he finds will surprise you. Deeply reported and poignant, with a light touch of sweet self-awareness, his journey can help us all take our minds to a better place."—Walter Isaacson, the New York Times bestselling author of Leonardo Da Vinci and Steve Jobs

"[Stein] investigates the contemporary political landscape with a gimlet eye and plenty of humor in this deep dive into our cultural divide."—Town and Country

Total waste of time. Returning.

I have read and enjoyed Tom Nichols’ The Death of Expertise. After seeing the Author of this book interviewed, I thought he might be plowing the same field, but one that we need to appreciate as an underlying rationale for the current state of American Culture and Politics.

I was wrong. The whole work is an exercise in cutest snark and vain attempts at humor unworthy of a semi-literate nine year old (Apologies to nine year olds. They’re funnier than Stein.)

The whole book can be summarized in two sentences:

1. Even people in Small Town America can be nice.
2. Avoid smugness.

Sorry for the Spoiler but, when you get your money back after returning the book, you’ll thank me. You would have learned nothing from the experience. Trust me.

A wake up call for the intelligent.

High IQ? Successful? Annoyed by stupid people? If you said yes to all three, this is a book that will have you nodding, laughing, and then groaning at how much you find yourself agreeing with John Stein's self assessment of how and why smart people are failing at elevating American society. It's a wake up call for the intelligent or as Stein calls them "the elite" who are in the "the loop." Start the discussion on how to connect society issues but using this book to first become self aware of how you're part of the problem (insert groan here). Ugh, Stein is right.

Not what I thought but better

I got the book because I wanted to hear the case for the other side. I expected some arrogant condescending intellectual argument. The book is funny and way more open to both sides that I would’ve thought. I still don’t fully agree with the author but there’s probably something wrong with anyone who agrees with everything somebody else says.

Love

My parents kept a Time subscription and every month I’d flip directly to Joel Stein’s page and read his beautiful, funny writing and probably did better academically because of exposure to it. Just happened to follow him on fb and got notified of his new book. Joel is still funny and smart. His book is in his exploration of other minded people and draws thoughtful points in understanding our nucleus of a country. Listening to Joel on audio was also enjoyable, and the only person who could do the job.

Funny, Smart and Humble

I don’t know much about Joel Stein and have been tired of listening to the doom and gloom political books that I’ve downloaded lately.

Although I think analysis of the current administration is important, I needed some humor that also gives me hope we can get out of the downward spiral of tribalism.

I don’t know that this book has me convinced that’ll happen anytime soon, but I enjoyed every second and laughed the whole way through. I truly think anyone on any side can enjoy this and hope many do.

An Unusually Useless, And Annoying Listen

The Author insists that Elites are treated better than us. Somehow, I knew this.

Horrors: Joel’s Message Even Stronger Than His Humor!

Joel is ALWAYS wonderfully clever and funny! Don’t let this FOOL you: THIS book is SO much more than funny. He goes deep under the populist stereotype (‘racist’) to develop a warm and well-rounded profile that challenges elites to reach out - that actually works to bring people together. In this fractured society, there cannot be a higher goal - and, if readers are REALLY listening (as I did), Joel’s message could bring positive results. Joel, you ARE better than us!

very funny binge worthy

excellent narrative on the people from either side of the class divide that polarizes modern American politics

Excellent

I didn’t think there would be enough material to fill an entire book based on the title. I was happily surprised. I really enjoyed it, truly hysterical book, but also thought-provoking. Highly recommend.

Love the perspective

Learning how the world works and now how to clearly articulate and communicate what I was thinking all along.