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Very Important People
Status and Beauty in the Global Party Circuit
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Very Important People
$8999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
This book will appeal to readers interested in sociology, gender studies, contemporary culture, and the dynamics of wealth and privilege. It suits those curious about the hidden economies of status and is ideal for anyone fascinated by the intersection of social inequality and luxury lifestyles.
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See moreA sociologist and former fashion model takes readers inside the elite global party circuit of "models and bottles" to reveal how beautiful young women are used to boost the status of menMillion-dollar birthday parties, megayachts on the French Riviera, and $40,000 bottles of champagne. In today's New Gilded Age, the world's moneyed classes have
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
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Description
A sociologist and former fashion model takes readers inside the elite global party circuit of 'models and bottles' to reveal how beautiful young women are used to boost the status of men.
Million-dollar birthday parties, megayachts on the French Riviera, and $40,000 bottles of champagne. In today's New Gilded Age, the world's moneyed classes have taken conspicuous consumption to new extremes. In Very Important People, sociologist, author, and former fashion model Ashley Mears takes readers inside the exclusive global nightclub and party circuitβfrom New York City and the Hamptons to Miami and Saint-Tropezβto reveal the intricate economy of beauty, status, and money that lies behind these spectacular displays of wealth and leisure.
Mears spent eighteen months in this world of 'models and bottles' to write this captivating, sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking narrative. She describes how clubs and restaurants pay promoters to recruit beautiful young women to their venues in order to attract men and get them to spend huge sums in the ritual of bottle service. These "girls" enhance the status of the men and enrich club owners, exchanging their bodily capital for as little as free drinks and a chance to party with men who are rich or aspire to be. Though they are priceless assets in the party circuit, these women are regarded as worthless as long-term relationship prospects, and their bodies are constantly assessed against men's money.
A story of extreme gender inequality in a seductive world, Very Important People unveils troubling realities behind moneyed leisure in an age of record economic disparity.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Praised as "one of Amazon's Best Books of 2020 in Business and Leadership," Very Important People has been lauded for its fascinating, richly human storytelling. Critics have described it as "riveting," "colourful," and "a very good reporter's work," with insights that extend beyond nightlife to broader social realities. It has earned honours like the Distinguished Scholarly Publication Award from the American Sociological Association and has been commended in publications such as The Times, The New Yorker, and The Telegraph.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780691168654
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Format: Hardback
Date Published: 26 May 2020
Country: United States
Imprint: Princeton University Press
Illustration: 4 b/w illus. 2 tables.
Audience: Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Width: 155.0mm
Height: 235.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 320
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About the Author
Ashley Mears is associate professor in the Department of Sociology and in the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program at Boston University. She is the author of Pricing Beauty: The Making of a Fashion Model. Her writings have appeared in the New York Times, Elle, and other publications. She lives in Boston.
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