Richistan: A Journey Through the American Wealth Boom and the Lives of the New Rich (original 2007; edition 2008)

by Robert Frank

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Full of captivating profiles and expert insights into the lives and lifestyles of the nouveau riche, Richistan tells the real story of a new gilded age. The recent explosion of wealth has created a new breed of multimillionaires. Ed Bazinet, for example, who turned miniature ceramic villages into a $250 million fortune. Or Tim Blixseth, who became a billionaire by trading remote stretches of timberland. Richistan takes readers inside a rarified world to see how these blue-collar-workers-turned-billionaires are earning, spending, and living. From "Butler School," where domestics are specially trained to serve the newly wealthy, to self-help groups for coping with the strains of $10 million incomes, you'll discover how the nouveaux riches learn to be riche. In addition, Frank investigates where their money is going. With so much in the hands of so few, the personal whims of the extremely wealthy can make or break charities and research foundations. Will they support cancer research or the arts? Supernatural exploration or archaeological digs? The influence wielded by the newly wealthy goes far beyond their fashion choices or participation in reality TV shows. Richistan looks behind the glitz to find the real story behind new money and its impact on the richest nation in the world.… (more)

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Member:	Yells
Title:	Richistan: A Journey Through the American Wealth Boom and the Lives of the New Rich
Authors:	Robert Frank
Info:	Three Rivers Press (2008), Paperback, 288 pages
Collections:	Read in 2011, Read but unowned
Rating:
Tags:	READ 2014 and Prior

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Richistan: A Journey Through the American Wealth Boom and the Lives of the New Rich by Robert Frank (2007)

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Economics

efclune | Mar 6, 2022 |

This book examines the lives of the newly wealthy in America. Its a little dated, in that it was written before the recent real estate crash, but apart from that is a very good book. It is readable, interesting, and raises some interesting questions about what will happen with wealth in an increasingly globalized world. The book also does a good job of highlighting the increasing gap between the ultra-wealthy and not just the poor, but the middle class as well. I really enjoyed this book.

http://www.stillhq.com/book/Robert_Frank/Richistan.html (

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mikal | Apr 6, 2011 |

It was an easy, interesting read, but I went to write a review barely a week later and couldn't remember a thing. And that isn't normal for me. (

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kristenn | Oct 7, 2009 |

A thoroughly depressing book, in part because the author attempts to stand on “unbiased” ground while exploring the lives of those whose net worth is over $10 million. Inherently raises the question of whether it’s possible to consume at that level and still honestly say you’re giving proper attention to the poor and downtrodden. The chapter on performance philanthropy is worth noting—much more so than the chapter on relieving the cramped space of the super-yacht by paring them with mini-yacht companion ships. (

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ebnelson | Jul 31, 2009 |

Frank, who writes for the Wall Street Journal, has examined the inhabitants of a virtual country within the United States made up of the more than eight million millionaires, focusing especially on the richest of the rich, those worth between 100 million and 1 billion dollars. These people have their own sometimes intriguing and sometimes peculiar lifestyle, and face problems the rest of us are free of: households full of servants and managers who must themselves be managed, the concern over how their children can be raised not to be Paris Hilton (solution: leave them with nothing), and how to spend their money in a way that will impress the ever-richer superrich. Not all is excess and frivolity, however. These people have found a new approach to philanthropy that is intriguing, and their tendency to pursue work as a creative endeavor is worthy of respect. Unfortunately, the book was published just before the current economic downturn, so one wonders how many of those nouveau riche are still riche. (

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kambrogi | Apr 3, 2009 |

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Financial Times and Schroders Business Book of the Year (Longlist – 2007)

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2007

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Atherton, California, USA

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Affluence in the United States

Starkey International Institute for Household Management

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Full of captivating profiles and expert insights into the lives and lifestyles of the nouveau riche, Richistan tells the real story of a new gilded age. The recent explosion of wealth has created a new breed of multimillionaires. Ed Bazinet, for example, who turned miniature ceramic villages into a $250 million fortune. Or Tim Blixseth, who became a billionaire by trading remote stretches of timberland. Richistan takes readers inside a rarified world to see how these blue-collar-workers-turned-billionaires are earning, spending, and living. From "Butler School," where domestics are specially trained to serve the newly wealthy, to self-help groups for coping with the strains of $10 million incomes, you'll discover how the nouveaux riches learn to be riche. In addition, Frank investigates where their money is going. With so much in the hands of so few, the personal whims of the extremely wealthy can make or break charities and research foundations. Will they support cancer research or the arts? Supernatural exploration or archaeological digs? The influence wielded by the newly wealthy goes far beyond their fashion choices or participation in reality TV shows. Richistan looks behind the glitz to find the real story behind new money and its impact on the richest nation in the world.

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