David Brooks's "Bobos in Paradise"

If Books Could Kill - David Brooks's "Bobos in Paradise"

Transcript Summary

In this episode, Peter and Michael delve into the book "Bobos in Paradise" by David Brooks, a Times columnist and influential thinker. They analyze Brooks's fictionalized descriptions and critique his portrayal of people in a latte town, particularly his judgment of a bakery owner and his wife. The book explores the merging of bourgeois and bohemian lifestyles, highlighting the creation of a knowledge class in the US since the 1960s. Peter and Michael discuss the marketing of authenticity, the aesthetics of counterculture, and the selling of extreme outdoor gear. They delve into the desire for individual experiences, the lack of class consciousness, and the power structures at play. Criticisms revolve around the book's failure to address class or economic inequality, as well as its lack of understanding towards alternative sexual practices. The authors question the concept of Bobos as the new ruling elite and reflect on Brooks's underestimation of liberal elites' cultural dominance. Overall, this conversation examines the book's flaws, challenges its arguments, and questions the reasons for listening to Brooks, highlighting his lack of expertise and tendency to dismiss significant problems.

Transcript