In the Hamptons Too: Further Encounters With Farmers, Fishermen, Artists, Billionaires, and Celebrities

by Dan Rattiner

As the editor and publisher of Dan's Papers, the area's popular free newspaper, Dan Rattiner has been living in and covering the Hamptons for over fifty years, and has watched it change from a sleepy backwater of fishing villages and potato farms to a playground for the rich and famous. In this follow-up to his popular book In the Hamptons, Rattiner continues to regale us with tales of the people who live, work, and play in one of America's best-known summer colonies, ranging from colorful locals like former East Hampton Town Supervisor Richard T. Gilmartin and marine patrol policeman Ralph George, to more well-known figures like Kurt Vonnegut, Betty Friedan, Alger Hiss, and Martha Stewart. Sometimes amused, sometimes appalled, but always observant, Rattiner tells these stories of the Hamptons as only he can tell with dry wit, unassuming language, and as keen an awareness of his own quirks and foibles as he is those of his fellow human beings.

406 pages, Hardcover

First published May 18, 2010

Reviews

[Naturegirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love these books with stories of people in the Hamptons by Dan Rattiner. There is an obvious love and affection for the area and the people who live in it that is present in each story. Every time I read one of these, I learn so much about the history of the South Fork, various buildings around town, and some of the people who have dotted the landscape of the Hamptons, making it the mecca of the famous that it is today. This volume includes personal stories about characters like Kurt Vonnegut, Bill Clinton, Martha Stewart, and so many others (who in my opinion are more interesting than the more well known names) who have darkened the halls of the mansions of the East End. Definitely a great read for locals in the area and anyone who plans on visiting the Hamptons.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hoping that this book would have the same magic as Rattiner's first book on the Hamptons, I was a little disappointed. I learned more about Rattiner's sexual history than I needed to and the stories felt much more forced than the original book. I don't know if his publisher pushed him too hard into another book or he felt that the stories that didn't make it into the first book deserved their own book (they didn't), but not as good as the first book, which I really enjoyed.

[Mamama · Rating 3 out of 5]

This set of books is just what you'd expect from Dan of Dan's Papers. Personal stories, quickly-written memories of close encounters with celebs and interesting people, mostly-engaging, bad editing, but who cares?