Synopses & Reviews
They love nothing better than sipping free-trade gourmet coffee, leafing through the Sunday
New York Times, and listening to David Sedaris on NPR (ideally all at the same time). Apple products, indie music, food co-ops, and vintage T-shirts make them weak in the knees.
They believe theyre unique, yet somehow theyre all exactly the same, talking about how they “get” Sarah Silvermans “subversive” comedy and Wes Andersons “droll” films. Theyre also down with diversity and up on all the best microbrews, breakfast spots, foreign cinema, and authentic sushi. Theyre organic, ironic, and do not own TVs.
You know who they are: Theyre white people. And theyre here, and youre gonna have to deal. Fortunately, heres a book that investigates, explains, and offers advice for finding social success with the Caucasian persuasion. So kick back on your IKEA couch and lose yourself in the ultimate guide to the unbearable whiteness of being.
Praise for STUFF WHITE PEOPLE LIKE:
“The best of a hilarious Web site: an uncannily accurate catalog of dead-on predilections. The Criterion Collection of classic films? Haircuts with bangs? Expensive fruit juice? ‘Blonde on Blonde on the iPod? The author knows who reads The New Yorker and who wears plaid.”
-Janet Maslins summer picks, CBS.com
“The author of "Stuff White People Like" skewers the sacred cows of lefty Caucasian culture, from the Prius to David Sedaris. . . . It gently mocks the habits and pretensions of urbane, educated, left-leaning whites, skewering their passion for Barack Obama and public transportation (as long as it's not a bus), their idle threats to move to Canada, and joy in playing children's games as adults. Kickball, anyone?”
-Salon.com
“A handy reference guide with which you can check just how white you are. Hint: If you like only documentaries and think your child is gifted, you glow in the dark, buddy.”
-NY Daily News
Review
"Sure to bring a knowing smile to those of the Caucasian persuasion, and those whose best friends may be white....Stuff white [people] might like? This book." New York Post
Review
"Filled with bons mots....A snarky bit of grass-roots anthropology." Los Angeles Times
Review
"The author of Stuff White People Like skewers the sacred cows of lefty Caucasian culture, from the Prius to David Sedaris....It's like an extended 'you might be a redneck if' joke recast for a more upscale set." Salon.com
Review
"A handy reference guide with which you can check just how white you are. Hint: If you like only documentaries and think your child is gifted, you glow in the dark, buddy." The New York Daily News
Synopsis
The Preppy Handbook meets PostSecret, in this cultural manifesto for a new generation. Lander and his blog stuffwhitepeoplelike.com have already been profiled by NPR and The Los Angeles Times, adding to the success of the Internet phenomenon.
Synopsis
They love nothing better than sipping free-trade gourmet coffee, leafing through the Sunday
New York Times, and listening to David Sedaris on NPR (ideally all at the same time). Apple products, indie music, food co-ops, and vintage T-shirts make them weak in the knees.
They believe they're unique, yet somehow they're all exactly the same, talking about how they "get" Sarah Silverman's "subversive" comedy and Wes Anderson's "droll" films. They're also down with diversity and up on all the best microbrews, breakfast spots, foreign cinema, and authentic sushi. They're organic, ironic, and do not own TVs.
You know who they are: They're white people. And they're here, and you're gonna have to deal. Fortunately, here's a book that investigates, explains, and offers advice for finding social success with the Caucasian persuasion. So kick back on your IKEA couch and lose yourself in the ultimate guide to the unbearable whiteness of being.
About the Author
Christian Lander is the creator of the website Stuff White People Like. He is a Ph.D. dropout who was the 2006 public speaking instructor of the year at Indiana University. He has lived in Toronto, Montreal, Copenhagen, Tucson, Indiana, and now Los Angeles, where he lives with his wife, Jess, a photographer who contributed many of the photos in the book.
Author Q&A
Q&A with Christian Lander:How did you decide to start the Stuff White People Like blog?
My friend Myles Valentin and I were talking over IM about the TV show The Wire. Myles said he didn’t trust any white people who did not watch the show. Somehow we ended up talking about what they were doing instead of watching it and we came up with answers like “yoga,” “plays,” “getting divorced,” and “therapy.” I thought it was a funny idea for a blog and signed up for one at wordpress.com and just started writing.
You have over 30 million hits, did you ever think it would be this popular?
No. I started it with the hopes that maybe 10 of my friends would read it. I never expected it to be read by this many people.
Are you racist against white people?
Not outwardly.
Why do you think some people perceive the blog as racist?
Mostly because it’s fundamentally about stereotypes and people have been conditioned to automatically react to a stereotype as an awful thing. In most cases, they would be right. But this blog is not filled with hateful or negative stereotypes and it’s not meant to incite anger or demean white people.
Is the blog really about race or is it more about money and social status?
It’s partially about race, but it’s fundamentally about class. It’s about a generation and class that values authenticity and credibility more than monetary wealth.
Is “white” a synonym for “bland”?
No! White people have done many spicy things - both good and bad.
Do you consider yourself a comedian or a social critic?
Do I sound like a jerk for saying Comedian?
What are the worst suggestions you’ve received on your blog?
Mayonnaise and “stuffwhitepeoplelike.com”
What thing do white people like the most?
Organic food.
Any advice for people who want to be internet famous?
Don’t try. People can smell desperation, you have to create something that you like and you honestly cannot set out hoping for success - it’s your first step to failure.