In Class Paul Fussell explodes the sacred American myth of social equality with eagle-eyed irreverence and iconoclastic wit. This bestselling, superbly researched, exquisitely observed guide to the signs, symbols, and customs of the American class system is always outrageously on the mark as Fussell shows us how our status is revealed by everything we do, say, and own. He describes the houses, objects, artifacts, speech, clothing styles, and intellectual proclivities of American classes from the top to the bottom and everybody — you'll surely recognize yourself — in between. Class is guaranteed to amuse and infuriate, whether your class is so high it's out of sight (literally) or you are, alas, a sinking victim of prole drift.

Highly amusing....a witty, persnickety, and illuminating book....fussell hits the mark.

Move over, William Buckley. Stand back, Gore Vidal. And run for cover, Uncle Sam: Paul Fussell, the nation's newest world-class curmudgeon, is taking aim at The American Experiment.

The Atlantic

A fine prickly pear of a book....Anyone who reads it will automatically move up a class.

The New York Times Book Review

A shrewd and entertaining commentary on American mores today. Frighteningly acute.

I A Touchy Subject
II An Anatomy of the Classes
III Appearance Counts
IV About the House
V Consumption, Recreation, Bibelots
VI The Life of the Mind
VII "Speak, That I May See Thee"
VIII Climbing and Sinking, and Prole Drift
IX The X Way Out

Appendix: Exercises, and the Mail Bag