Russell Lynes – författare

In this humorous look at the phenomenon of snobbery, Lynes begins by stating, 'the social snob, while not extinct, has gone underground (except for professionals such as headwaiters and metropolitan hotel room-clerks), and snobbery has emerged in a whole new set of guises'. He playfully skewers the many types that have since emerged, from Emotional Snobs to Sensual, Political, Taste, Regional, and Reverse Snobs. In vivid characterizations that run the gamut, Lynes' cutting wit brings out his contemporaries' foibles with humor and elan. It includes a number of illustrative drawings by Robert Olson.

This humorous and kind-hearted little tome examines various facets of topics pertaining to 'guests'. In the first chapter, Lynes discusses the changing face of hospitality, from an older more formal time (when the rules were clear) to his time, when (as today) a more informal culture prevails, with some attending confusion. The second chapter is an unforgettable taxonomy of various types of cocktail party 'bores' (from the Crashing Bore to the boring Fascinating Conversationalist.) The third section examines the perils of inviting guests for a weekend country visit. In the final chapter, different types of hosts and hostesses are discussed and dissected, including the bossy, the shy, and those wearing slogan-emblazoned barbecue aprons.