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heidilreads's review against another edition
4.0
A sociologist 's take on the lifestyle of NYC elite...
deschatjes's review against another edition
3.0
Quick read about the terrifying tribe of women living on the upper East side of NYC. But it could equally be describing many amalgamations of people on the inside as they attempt to keep outsiders in their place. Many of the experiences are those that any expat woman would recognize while trying to break yet again into another society. Interesting references to primates and cultural practices
cinbstein's review against another edition
1.0
Intrigued by the premise, I was excited to read this. Halfway through I found myself irritated with everything about it. I took a break, then got back to it and had to force myself through, while ignoring animal kingdom references. After reading articles about falsities in the book as well and learning that the author has never actually been to the referenced animal tribes, the book lost all credibility.
andeedevore's review against another edition
2.0
It's hard for me to give this book a high rating because, although it was pretty entertaining, I had a hard time believing everything the author was claiming to be true. After the release of this book, critics pointed out that the author wasn't being truthful about how long she lived on the Upper East Side, along with a few other things, and it made me wonder what else she had fabricated. I very much felt that the author was being disingenuous and writing what she thought the audience wanted to hear. I would have rated it lower, but it was entertaining and a clever way of writing about culture in modern Manhattan.
dayoldtea's review against another edition
2.0
Entertainingly written, but every person in this memoir so privileged that I couldn't stand it.
brunborg's review against another edition
4.0
This book, "Primates of Park Avenue," was an eye-opener for me. Going into it, I had no clear expectations, but soon found myself captivated by the stark contrasts between the world it depicted and my own. I was aware, to some extent, that the lifestyles of billionaires and the wealthy diverged significantly from mine, but I hadn't fully grasped the extent of this disparity. This realization was particularly striking coming from my recent reading of "Understanding Power" by Noam Chomsky, where he discusses how incentive structures misaligned with the common good can lead to detrimental outcomes. Seeing the incentive structures of high society play out in "Primates of Park Avenue" highlighted for me how such structures can profoundly affect behavior in ways that are both sad and troubling.
The book illustrates how easily one can become ensnared in an unhealthy lifestyle, something I doubt would be the takeaway if read in isolation. Instead, it might simply appear as a commentary on the superficiality of society. However, paired with Chomsky's insights, it becomes a compelling narrative on the impact of societal incentives.
Regarding the lives of the individuals featured in the book, it's astonishing to see the extremity of their wealth and how it skews their values. The obsession over material possessions, such as who owns a more expensive handbag, seems almost unfathomable. It's hard to understand how these wealthy individuals, living in comfort and with numerous staff, could find fulfillment. Yet, their lives, filled with activities unknown to me, appear anything but boring. They seem, in fact, to be exhaustingly full, far more so than my own.
What strikes me as particularly sad is the pressure to ensure their children are perceived as successful within this hyper-competitive society. Personally, I place a high value on happiness, something that seems undervalued in their world where success is paramount. This difference in values is disheartening. The thought of spending what could amount to the cost of multiple homes on a single handbag is a profound indicator of misplaced priorities. I hope for a shift in perspective for these individuals, as I believe everyone deserves the chance to pursue genuine happiness, free from such an environment.
In summary, "Primates of Park Avenue" has been a revelatory read, especially when considered alongside Chomsky's critique of power structures. It has illuminated the vast differences in lifestyle and values between the elite and the everyday person, leaving me grateful for my own circumstances and wary of the trappings of extreme wealth.
The book illustrates how easily one can become ensnared in an unhealthy lifestyle, something I doubt would be the takeaway if read in isolation. Instead, it might simply appear as a commentary on the superficiality of society. However, paired with Chomsky's insights, it becomes a compelling narrative on the impact of societal incentives.
Regarding the lives of the individuals featured in the book, it's astonishing to see the extremity of their wealth and how it skews their values. The obsession over material possessions, such as who owns a more expensive handbag, seems almost unfathomable. It's hard to understand how these wealthy individuals, living in comfort and with numerous staff, could find fulfillment. Yet, their lives, filled with activities unknown to me, appear anything but boring. They seem, in fact, to be exhaustingly full, far more so than my own.
What strikes me as particularly sad is the pressure to ensure their children are perceived as successful within this hyper-competitive society. Personally, I place a high value on happiness, something that seems undervalued in their world where success is paramount. This difference in values is disheartening. The thought of spending what could amount to the cost of multiple homes on a single handbag is a profound indicator of misplaced priorities. I hope for a shift in perspective for these individuals, as I believe everyone deserves the chance to pursue genuine happiness, free from such an environment.
In summary, "Primates of Park Avenue" has been a revelatory read, especially when considered alongside Chomsky's critique of power structures. It has illuminated the vast differences in lifestyle and values between the elite and the everyday person, leaving me grateful for my own circumstances and wary of the trappings of extreme wealth.
rea1997's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
0.75
"... A good thing too I thought to myself because you'd have to sell a lot of cashmere sweaters to pay for one even one like mine if you could get anyone at hermes to sell you one. Which is doubt....." " As I paid for my clothes that I could afford. And she couldn't and contemplated. How on the upper East Side. There are many, many ways to run a woman off the sidewalk" this is just a little insight on the book and the authors POV. I personally did not enjoy the book, maybe because for me it's because I live paycheck to paycheck and maybe that's envy that she can do all this rich girl stuff and I don't sympathize with her rich niche problems of being a mom on the upper east side of Manhattan. I read this book on recommendation of a coworker. This book is better suited for people who like keeping up with the Kardashians or the real housewives of series. Seriously no disrespect if this is you, it just wasn't for me.
keen23's review against another edition
2.0
Little to no sympathy for this author and her privileged UES life.
bronski's review against another edition
2.0
It's clear this book was written by an academic and I honestly didn't mind the anthropological inserts that compare the behaviour of New York mothers to members of the animal kingdom. They were sprinkled throughout and although interesting, I hoped for more of a storyline. Given it's categorized as a memoir I thought there may be more of a personal touch to Martin's writing but she seemed to stay at arm's length, save for the end of the book. Even then, the truly heartbreaking chapter seemed distant enough from her that I felt a little puzzled. Perhaps it was a result of nerves and risk of exposure among her "tribe" but I didn't feel I could connect with her or her characters. The lifestyle she writes about is not one that appeals to me so that may be the issue. Her wants and needs and willingness to assimilate among the UES is certainly not something I could relate to.