book data
206 ratings, 3.49 average rating, 86 reviews
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published
June 24th 2008
by Three Rivers Press
binding
Paperback, 288 pages
isbn
0307341453
(isbn13: 9780307341457)
description
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
RICH-I-STAN n. 1. a new country located in the heart of America, populated entirely by millionaires, most of wh...more
RICH-I-STAN n. 1. a new country located in the heart of America, populated entirely by millionaires, most of wh...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 349)
Read in October, 2008
recommends it for:
Maura (perhaps), Sara-Maria, Steph
There ought to be a way to give a book two scores. If there were I would give this both a 2 and a 4.
I have been looking for a book that would update things I read in the 70s; books that emerge from the C. Wright Mills school of political economic sociology. For example, Mills' Power Elite, Domhoff's higher circles and Lundberg's Rich and Super Rich. This...more
I have been looking for a book that would update things I read in the 70s; books that emerge from the C. Wright Mills school of political economic sociology. For example, Mills' Power Elite, Domhoff's higher circles and Lundberg's Rich and Super Rich. This...more
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6 comments
Read in June, 2008
You know...I enjoyed the book, but not in the way that I expected. I thought I would be like, "Wow, that would be so awesome to be rich. I would do that and this and that!" But instead I kinda felt bad for these people.
Ok, I didn't really enjoy the feeling bad part, but I enjoyed thinking "Hey...my life is pretty awesome. I have two cats and neither of them wears a gold and diamond collar." I say that because one of them, Rocco, tends to lose his collar several tim...more
Ok, I didn't really enjoy the feeling bad part, but I enjoyed thinking "Hey...my life is pretty awesome. I have two cats and neither of them wears a gold and diamond collar." I say that because one of them, Rocco, tends to lose his collar several tim...more
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2 comments
Read in August, 2007
I am fascinated by the growing problem of income inequality in the US and this book drives home just how out of whack it's become. The author, a Wall Street Journal reporter, covers all facets of the lives of the ultra-wealthy (those with $10 million or more in assets) and shows how they live such different and removed lives from the rest of us that they've essentially created their own country, which he calls "Richistan." The author almost makes fun of this group, with his tone of voi...more
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Read in November, 2008
Entertaining in a voyeuristic sort of way. I believe the same sort of journalistic detachment that allows the reader to both marvel at the absurdity of, and secretly still desire to participate in, the luxury culture when reading this book is what bumped it down to three stars for me. As other readers have commented it's a very quick, superficial portrait of the new rich. The parts that were the most interesting to me, like effect of the ubiquitous display culture on the those who view themse...more
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Read in November, 2008
This book is a collection of statistics and anecdotes about the makeup and lives of America's uber-rich. It's a relatively short read that is more of an introduction and summary, rather than an in-depth study.
The most interesting thing that I took from this is that most of America's super-rich did not make the bulk of their fortune from inheritance. Sure, there are many of those people around -- and have been for years and years -- but since the 80's, there have been a large number of peop...more
The most interesting thing that I took from this is that most of America's super-rich did not make the bulk of their fortune from inheritance. Sure, there are many of those people around -- and have been for years and years -- but since the 80's, there have been a large number of peop...more
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I chose this book because I do a lot of fundraising for work and wanted to understand my donors better. The author is a Wall Street Journal reporter who invented his own sociological beat covering the new rich. The book is a pleasant surprise. It is not a glorification of the new rich but carefully explains their roots and mores; delving into topics as tax structure, the growth and role of IPOs and venture capital; and the dynamics of new money vs. old. The book divides Richistan into three leve...more
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Read in September, 2008
Richistan provided a fascinating look inside the lives of the super-wealthy. As Frank notes, the number of millionaires and billionaires in the United States is steadily growing, most from the ranks of self-made entrepreneurs. He also makes a good point when he says that the wealthy are a class that is somewhat unstudied. He touches on a number of interesting threads that run through the lives of the wealthy (e.g., hiring help, one-upsmanship in the arena of philanthropy and spending, decidin...more
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Read in July, 2008
The author is the "wealth writer" for the Wall Street Journal and is the only writer exclusively covering the New Wealth in America. He started covering this topic a couple of years ago and wrote articles in the WSJ that later evolved into the subject of the book. The basic instigator of the book, revealed in the opening, was a statistic on the number of millionaires doubling in the 1990s.
The book examines a new country - Richistani - populated by the new rich. There are three c...more
The book examines a new country - Richistani - populated by the new rich. There are three c...more
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I actually finished this book a couple days ago. I wrote most of a review, then my computer froze up and I lost it. I have been putting off writing it again. This book dragged for me. I spent a long time reading it. Part of that was because I lost it for a few days on the back of downstairs toilet. I hardly ever use that bathroom.
Anyways, it's a book about the "new rich", as in, people who have made their fortunes within the last, I don't know, 20 years. It talks about their yacht...more
Anyways, it's a book about the "new rich", as in, people who have made their fortunes within the last, I don't know, 20 years. It talks about their yacht...more
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8 comments
Read in January, 2008
The first thing I noticed about this book is that it is about a half
inch narrower in its width than typical hardcovers. The editor,
like a desperate, talentless high school student, changed the margins a bit in
order to extend the content into a more respectable book-appropriate
length. The size manipulations notwithstanding, Robert Frank’s
Richistan is another decent non-fiction book illuminating another
fascinating American subculture.
Don’t confuse it with
Absurdistan, which also could ...more
inch narrower in its width than typical hardcovers. The editor,
like a desperate, talentless high school student, changed the margins a bit in
order to extend the content into a more respectable book-appropriate
length. The size manipulations notwithstanding, Robert Frank’s
Richistan is another decent non-fiction book illuminating another
fascinating American subculture.
Don’t confuse it with
Absurdistan, which also could ...more
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Read in January, 2008
The book's subtitle says it all: A Journey through the American Wealth Boom and the lives of the New Rich. Oh, and it is quite a journey that Wall Street Journal writer Robert Frank takes as he interviews, observes, and hangs out with the newly rich.
The title, of course, is a play on Rich and istan, which seems to be the suffix for every newly minted Middle-Eastern/post-Soviet nation that keeps confounding American geographers, school children, and even temporary White House occupants.
Wh...more
The title, of course, is a play on Rich and istan, which seems to be the suffix for every newly minted Middle-Eastern/post-Soviet nation that keeps confounding American geographers, school children, and even temporary White House occupants.
Wh...more
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Read in January, 2008
I only wish I had thought of this idea (and been a New York Times reporter) first. It's brilliant because it's timely (there are more millionaires and billionaires than ever before) and the common people have always been fascinated with the lives of the wealthy.
I was just fascinated with this book in general. I especially loved the chapters on the Butler training industry and yachts. It was just interesting and thought-provoking to read about the extremely wealthy. It made me think about how o...more
I was just fascinated with this book in general. I especially loved the chapters on the Butler training industry and yachts. It was just interesting and thought-provoking to read about the extremely wealthy. It made me think about how o...more
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Read in August, 2008
This book should be required reading for anyone who votes in the November election. In accessible journalistic style, Wall Street Journal reporter Robert Frank fulfills the promise of the subtitle, taking readers to such places as a luxury boat show and butler school. He describes a "country" of riches that most of us can't even dream of, a place where a Mercedes holds no cache. He takes the reader to support groups where ultra-rich people feel sorry for themselves and their peers.
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Read in January, 2007
Addition, October 25, 2008 an article in today's NYT titled Advising and Calming the Worried Super-Rich
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10...
A quick, scary read. The chapter that rocked me the most was about classes for the children of the mega rich, how to guard their wealth, invest ever more wisely and - wait for it - not a...more
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10...
A quick, scary read. The chapter that rocked me the most was about classes for the children of the mega rich, how to guard their wealth, invest ever more wisely and - wait for it - not a...more
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Read in November, 2008
The gap between the richest and the poorest is getting wider. The gap between the rich and richest is even wider! This is a book about the wealthiest 1% who control 30% of the wealth. The top 10% control 90% of the wealth. While the author goes to great pains not to be judgmental, it is hard to present an unbiased presentation of a person who spends $80,000 on alligator toilet seats for their private jet. After reading this book I just can't swallow the idea that rewarding the wealthy is good fo...more
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
pretty much everyone, but the rich
Wow, what a titlating, peeping-jen read. Although I know a few wealthy people, I've never examined their lifestyles beyond the basic awe. Yes, I'd love to have money, but if I ever get it, I'd want it to be the Richistani money rather than old money. This book, written by a reporter, exposes the lifestyle of the new rich and not-necessarily famous. My basic reference for the wealthy is Emily and Richard Gilmore from the Gilmore Girls, so this was another popish read.
The author describes ...more
The author describes ...more
Read in September, 2008
I liked this book a lot. I happen to not be rich, or anything like unto it. I thought that reading this book would make me feel bad about not being rich. Like going to the Parade of Homes makes my own house feel tiny and ugly. But instead I just felt kind of sorry for them. The Nouveau Riche lifestyle seems taxing (literally and figuratively) and lonely.
This book was incredibly fascinating and engaging. The chapter about butlers was incredibly interesting. As was the tale of an 11-yea...more
This book was incredibly fascinating and engaging. The chapter about butlers was incredibly interesting. As was the tale of an 11-yea...more
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The author of Richistan is the Wall Street Journal's reporter on the lifestyles of the newly rich and famous in America and this book evolved from his reporting. He covers it all: how they make their money, how they spend it, how it affects the US economy, what they are teaching their kids, how they handle their charitable giving, etc. It was fascinating. Richistan really IS another country within a country. Some of it's "citizens" are doing amazing good throughout the world with ...more
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Richistanis do, indeed, live in a different America than the rest of us.
This inside view of the lives of the extraordinarily wealthy was very well done by the author. I loved reading about the "Butler School" and thought that part of the book was especially fascinating when the author wrote about how a butler is trained in all aspects of household management.
It helped me realize what a billion is, and how these people, often with many billions, live. After reading this book, ...more
This inside view of the lives of the extraordinarily wealthy was very well done by the author. I loved reading about the "Butler School" and thought that part of the book was especially fascinating when the author wrote about how a butler is trained in all aspects of household management.
It helped me realize what a billion is, and how these people, often with many billions, live. After reading this book, ...more
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Read in September, 2007
recommends it for:
People fascinated by wealth
Robert Frank talks about his experiences with people of great wealth while researching material for his book Richistan about what he sees as a three-tiered class of wealthy elite that when comprised form a nation of wealth never before seen in modern times. Much to my surprise, the majority of wealthy elite he engaged with are highly unimpressed with themselves when it comes to the wealth they have scored or inherited. Some of them feel self-conscious about being rich and some even feel guilty a...more
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