RICH-I-STAN n. 1. a new country located in the heart of America, populated entirely by millionaires, most of whom acquired their wealth during the new Gilded Age of the past twenty years. 2. a country with a population larger than Belgium and Denmark; typical citizens include “spud king” J. R. Simplot; hair stylist Sydell Miller, the new star of Palm Beach; and assorted oddball entrepreneurs. 3. A country that with a little luck and pluck, you, too, could be a citizen of.
The rich have always been different from you and me, but Robert Frank’s revealing and funny journey through “Richistan” entertainingly shows that they are truly another breed.
Shedding light on the problems of the wealthyNovember 17, 2008 Richistan is an extremely interesting book about the new wealth in America and the rapidly increasing numbers of newly rich people. Mr. Frank works at The Wall Street Journal and appears to have access to an amazing number of sources. He quotes firsthand information from many wealthy individuals. The book should be particularly interesting to people who are not members of Richistan. By the way, the author or someone should receive credit for a particularly clever title.
Mr. Frank introduces the reader to many situations that would develop only if you had real money. For example, the first chapter is about Butler Boot Camp - a training ground for staff to manage estates of the members of Richistan. Apparently the demand for qualified people is huge. He also delves into how much money a rich person needs before a true comfort level sets in, modern methods of philanthropy, making money and then losing it, the political impact of Richistan, and the effect of large inheritances on the kids.
All in all, this is an excellent book to read to gain exposure to the benefits and difficulties of being wealthy. It's too bad that it was written in 2007. I would love to see an update reflecting today's economic conditions.
Richistan: A Journey Through the Ameerican Wealth BoomNovember 11, 2008 In view of the current economic tailspin, this presents a perspective that may have already passed us by in this generation. But it aptly describes a phenomenon of our most recent past, the uber-rich -- lifestyles, priorities, challenges, excesses. While the majority of those described herein will probably survive the free-falling economy, it's to be expected that the numbers will be decimated in most instances. The personal whims and wants of having the biggest, most technologically advanced, most desirable of everything -- and the staff to manage it all -- will likely be considerably downsized. Definitely a worthwhile read -- even as non-fiction!
The rich ARE different after all! (They have more $$$$$)October 2, 2008 Robert Frank's "Richistan" is a voyeuristic peek inside the posh tent and McMansions of the American wealthy. He argues that there are developing polarizing forces that make the "new rich" a nation unto themselves. He also dissects this affluent band, indicating that there are three subsets depending on the degree of wealth.
This is a fascinating sociological study of the New Rich, tracing how they differ from Old Money. This has political and social - as well as financial - ramifications.
"Richistan" offers few solutions. It does not pretend to be a prescriptive work of non-fiction. It is, instead, a very interesting perspective on the growth of the new class and the bubble in which it lives.
Interesting topicOctober 1, 2008 The topic area is interesting, but does not seem as thorough and balanced as I would expect - I am not sure if I should consider this an accurate account of life in the wealth stratosphere, or just an entertaining perspective by one author. I read this book right after "Nickel and Dimed" by Barbara Ehrenreich, which created an interesting contrast. I listened to the audio version, and did not care for the reader. The accents he uses to portray discussions with the author (and there are many of them) are strange and get to be quite irritating by the end of the book.
Amusing Anthropological Analysis of Astronomically AffluentSeptember 26, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Mr. Frank does an excellent job of presenting an overview of this rarefied subculture. Base insecurities of the human condition are displayed by this obscenely wealthy crowd's habitual one-upmanship social gatherings, Freudian obsessions with having the biggest yacht, mansion or whatever and rarely being satisfied with what they have accrued. A great deal of credit must be given to Mr. Frank for not devolving his book into a hatchet job on the moneyed folk. The author presents some of the pros and cons of finally acquiring and living with so much moolah. A brief, informative and entertaining book.
