Cheerful Money: Me, My Family, and the Last Days of Wasp Splendor Audiobook

" I love "Cooking for Mr. Latte" and anything involving Amanda Hesser, so I had high hopes for her husband's book. I found the historical information compelling and interesting. A glimpse into a life I'll never experience or touch. I found the autobiographical elements to be less interesting, which surprised, and disappointed, me. Overall an OK read that furthered my depth of Hesser knowledge, but not terribly interesting as a stand alone work. Sad. "

" Agree with the reader who said the first half of the book chronicling the author's family history is interesting, but the second, which is mostly about himself, is not. Maybe I couldn't get past his admission that he blew through his inheritance paying for psychoanalysis. And now I paid to listen to him continue from the couch. "

" This book will not appeal to everyone. I found the author smug (of course) and aside from his specific issues I really enjoyed the exploration of Wasp Heritage. For those of you who have ever been told someone has a "TL" for you, read on. "

" I could only read this book in spurts as it is less narrative and more episodic. Lovingly captures a cast of characters but fails to let the reader in - it's all, of course, an inside joke. But you knew it would be with a title like Cheerful Money. "

" Really enjoyable, easy read. I liked Tad's writing. It was as crisp as a Wasp white collard shirt. "

" The family stories are wonderful, some very funny, the the insights into Wasp culture are dead on. The reticence that that the author brings to the book ( although I get the feeling that he thinks he's Baring All) is very Waspy. A good read. "

" Not really as much fun as I had hoped. I've read better and cleverer memoirs about life in the "upper" classes. "

" Horrificly boring and tedious. Not funny at all. "

" enjoyed the vignettes; lingered over the photographs "

" i like the style of the writer, but the book became too bogged down in family trivia that was irrelevant. "

" Why, just who is that "quizzical WASP" ... "trust and estates lawyer" mentioned in this book... Not particularly brilliant, but a fun quick read. "

" This is in the memoir genre, for which I am a sucker. But the guy is a great writer, even if he is very self absorbed. I liked his insight into family dynamics. Interesting history of WASPs too. Not much of a plot but good quick read and peek into snooty American society. "

" Admission: I went to a couple of shipley proms and grew up near the author, albeit about 7 years later than him. But I'm fascinated with other people's lives and enjoyed the rambling tale of his. "

" A very nostalgic memoir ... which I liked. Other than the wealth in the family tree (none in mine), there were so many things here that reminded me of my family members. If you're a WASP who loves the New Yorker, you'll probably love this book too. "

" I started to read this book as a way of better understanding the non-Jews in my life. But, I put it down as it was supposed to be funny and is decidedly not. "

" I had no idea that certain ideas and behaviors are tribal and not unique. Read it if you are waspy. "

" A very talented and insightful author... but as Gertrude Stein said, "There is no there there." "

" Fascinating, marvelously written. Though they are difficult to love, Tad Friend's story of himself and his family offers an important portrait of a certain kind of American, at a certain time. "

" Never finished this one. I had an impossible time keeping track of the characters, thus had no emotions about any of their actions. I found many of the people mentioned irritating and I never really understood why we were being told this mundane story. "

" Fascinating, marvelously written. Though they are difficult to love, Tad Friend's story of himself and his family offers an important portrait of a certain kind of American, at a certain time. "

" Not very impressed. I liked reading about Main Line PA, Hartford VT and Woodstock VT, but did not enjoy all the excruciating details of relatives' foibles and terminal diseases. "

" The book starts of well, but the author never really convinces you to care about his family history. However, his description of his narrow definition of WASPs is humorous and scarily familiar. "

" I started to read this book as a way of better understanding the non-Jews in my life. But, I put it down as it was supposed to be funny and is decidedly not. "

" A very nostalgic memoir ... which I liked. Other than the wealth in the family tree (none in mine), there were so many things here that reminded me of my family members. If you're a WASP who loves the New Yorker, you'll probably love this book too. "

" sort of like a too long new yorker article at times, it just chugs along with no hills/ valleys. At times you want to shake him and tell him to pull himself together, at other times, you wince as keenly observed vignettes are both painful for the author and close to home for many readers. "

" This book will not appeal to everyone. I found the author smug (of course) and aside from his specific issues I really enjoyed the exploration of Wasp Heritage. For those of you who have ever been told someone has a "TL" for you, read on. "

" I think a history of WASPs would be pretty interesting, and I love Tad Friend's short pieces, but both mushed together in book-length memoir form was a little underwhelming. Not bad, though! "

" enjoyed the vignettes; lingered over the photographs "

" I could not totally relate to this book... "

" Swat the Wasp! Interesting book, well-written. "

" Admission: I went to a couple of shipley proms and grew up near the author, albeit about 7 years later than him. But I'm fascinated with other people's lives and enjoyed the rambling tale of his. "