The Fran Lebowitz Reader
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- Create Date：2021-07-21 14:15:59
- Update Date：2025-09-23
- Status：finish
- Author：Fran Lebowitz
- ISBN：B08YD4S5PZ
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Summary
The Fran Lebowitz Reader brings together in one volume， with a new preface， two bestsellers， Metropolitan Life and Social Studies， by an "important humorist in the classic tradition" （The New York Times Book Review） who is "the natural successor to Dorothy Parker" （British Vogue）。 In "elegant， finely honed prose" （The Washington Post Book World）， Lebowitz limns the vicissitudes of contemporary urban life—its fads， trends， crazes， morals， and fashions。 By turns ironic， facetious， deadpan， sarcastic， wry， wisecracking， and waggish， she is always wickedly entertaining。
Reviews
Antonio Fanelli
，
Amo questa donna！L'ho conosciuta nei documentari di Scorsese e il suo umorismo così rinfrescante e spietato mi ha conquistato; certo， i suoi articoli sono specchio degli anni in cui sono stati scritti， ma ancora adesso mordono quanto basta。 Amo questa donna！L'ho conosciuta nei documentari di Scorsese e il suo umorismo così rinfrescante e spietato mi ha conquistato; certo， i suoi articoli sono specchio degli anni in cui sono stati scritti， ma ancora adesso mordono quanto basta。 。。。more
Manuela Blonna
，
Non mi è arrivato
Carla （Piccoli。libri）
，
Fran Lebowitz si ama o si odia。Io la amo！
Ellie Kakoulli
，
FRAN FUCKING LEBOWITZ -that is all。 But for those of you unaware of this frickin’ legend and are in need a lil more convincing to pick this up -other than just taking my over enthusiastic （but hopefully fairly sound） word， let me divulge a little。。。The Fran Lebowitz Reader is shorter， combined rerelease of her two bestsellers; Metropolitan Life and Social Studies。Fran's essays follow a very distinct style -much like her comedy， they are short， sharp， smart， and incredibly dry （which I personall FRAN FUCKING LEBOWITZ -that is all。 But for those of you unaware of this frickin’ legend and are in need a lil more convincing to pick this up -other than just taking my over enthusiastic （but hopefully fairly sound） word， let me divulge a little。。。The Fran Lebowitz Reader is shorter， combined rerelease of her two bestsellers; Metropolitan Life and Social Studies。Fran's essays follow a very distinct style -much like her comedy， they are short， sharp， smart， and incredibly dry （which I personally LOVE！）That said， there were a few that didn’t quite hit the mark， and felt slightly dated or culturally distant。 Wise cracking and wickedly entertaining， I would definitely recommend this book for those of you needing a good chuckle， or -if you’re a multiple books on the go reader （which honestly， how do you do it！？） and are wanting to read something you can easily dip in and out for some light relief！ 3。5 stars 。。。more
Ele • Powaqa
，
Superlativa。
Lily
，
I will never be as cool as Fran。 But nobody else will be either， so maybe that's okay？ I will never be as cool as Fran。 But nobody else will be either， so maybe that's okay？ 。。。more
Barbara Bartolucci
，
Fran è il mio spirito guida。
Brooke Everett
，
Metropolitan LifeStarted 2/5/21; Finished 3/4/212 starsOn TV， Fran Lebowitz is tops and I can't think of a topic where I disagree with her。 I understand why Martin Scorcese can't stop laughing at pretty much everything she says。 If this was written by anyone other than Fran， I would have bailed。 While I appreciated that all the pieces are whimsical and short， they're mostly just unrelatable crackpot listicles。 In the rare moment that she's telling a story from her own life， it's wonderful - Metropolitan LifeStarted 2/5/21; Finished 3/4/212 starsOn TV， Fran Lebowitz is tops and I can't think of a topic where I disagree with her。 I understand why Martin Scorcese can't stop laughing at pretty much everything she says。 If this was written by anyone other than Fran， I would have bailed。 While I appreciated that all the pieces are whimsical and short， they're mostly just unrelatable crackpot listicles。 In the rare moment that she's telling a story from her own life， it's wonderful - like in the one where she's taking a car back into NYC and discovers that the driver is on a CB radio。Granted， it was published in 1978， which was a vastly different world and Fran was much younger。 Since comedy is generally timely， maybe it just hit differently for folks back then。 It's not without its moments that did elicit a smidge of a chuckle， though。"Rather than attempt to answer this question by utilizing the methods of the investigative reporter - legwork， research， and digging for facts - I decided instead to employ those of the irresponsible wag: lying on the sofa， talking on the phone， and making things up。" p。 51 I appreciate her honesty here。 I think her tactics were the same throughout。"There are two kinds of people in Milan。 The people who work for the various Vogues and the people who don't。" p。 69"I love sleep because it is both pleasant and safe to use。 Pleasant because one is in the best possible company and safe because sleep is the consummate protection against the unseemliness that is the invariable consequence of being awake。 What you don't know won't hurt you。 Sleep is death without the responsibility。" p。 97"。。。I have very little patience with the current craze for self-awareness。 I am already far too well acquainted with how I feel and frankly， given the choice， I would not。 Anyone who is troubled by the inability to feel his or her own feelings is more than welcome to feel mine。" p。 124This one is a chapter title: "Clothes with Pictures and/or Writing on Them: Yes - Another Complaint" p。 127"If people don't want to listen to you， what makes you think they want to hear from your sweater？" p。 128Social StudiesStarted 7/5/21; Finished 7/8/213 starsOh， ok， when Fran hates things she's being "hilarious，" but when I hate things I'm being "negative。" Divided into sections of People， Things， Places， and Ideas， Social Studies is a natural follow up to Metropolitan Life。 She's lived longer and has discovered more things she hates。 It did strike me as less tedious than Metropolitan Life， which may have been a result of the break I took between the two works。I especially enjoyed "The Frances Ann Lebowitz Collection，" where she catalogs her mundane possessions as a museum would。The whole chapter entitled "The Pen of My Aunt Is on the Operating Table" reads like a very bizarre Zillow Gone Wild post caption。From Tips for Teens: "Think before you speak。 Read before you think。 This will give you something to think about that you didn't make up yourself - a wise move at any age， but most especially at seventeen， when you are in the greatest danger of coming to annoying conclusions。" p。 211-212"To put it rather bluntly， I am not the type who wants to go back to the land - I am the type who wants to go back to the hotel。" p。 233"If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater。。。suggest that he wear a tail。" p。 241"Usually occupying a renovated waterfront area， the quiche district， as I am wont to call it， has brought new and unwelcome meaning to the words 'light industry。'" p。 265"Being offended is the natural consequence of leaving one's home。" p。 292 。。。more
Marta Pacini
，
Ho incrociato per la prima volta Fran Lebowitz con la mini docuserie su Netflix “Pretend it’s a city”， del suo amico Martin Scorsese: non avevo mai （sor）riso così tanto guardando un prodotto audiovisivo。 Sono andata subito online a cercare qualcosa di suo tradotto in italiano e con grande delusione ho dovuto accettare il fatto che Fran Lebowitz non era tradotta nella nostra lingua: nulla di nulla， zero totale。Questo libro l’ho accolto subito come una festa perché rappresenta la prima traduzione Ho incrociato per la prima volta Fran Lebowitz con la mini docuserie su Netflix “Pretend it’s a city”， del suo amico Martin Scorsese: non avevo mai （sor）riso così tanto guardando un prodotto audiovisivo。 Sono andata subito online a cercare qualcosa di suo tradotto in italiano e con grande delusione ho dovuto accettare il fatto che Fran Lebowitz non era tradotta nella nostra lingua: nulla di nulla， zero totale。Questo libro l’ho accolto subito come una festa perché rappresenta la prima traduzione in italiano di quasi tutto quello che Fran ha scritto in vita sua， proprio a seguito del successo del documentario di Netflix anche nel nostro paese e perché mi dava modo di scoprire una scrittrice attraverso il medium principale col quale si esprime （la scrittura） e non attraverso un documentario， un film， eccetera。Due o tre cose sul libro che dicono tutto di Fran Lebowitz。1。 Questo libro non è un romanzo。 L’unico romanzo che Fran pare “non” abbia mai scritto è un work in progress che dura da anni e anni e che probabilmente non vedrà mai la luce。 E questo， insieme al titolo del libro e al primissimo capitolo col quale si inizia la lettura， dice tutto dell’indole dell’autrice: procrastinatrice nata， amante del dormire fino a tardi， fancazzista con stile che non tocca una penna （Fran non scrive al computer， d’altronde non ne possiede neanche uno） da almeno quarant’anni。 Pensate che si dolga di tutto ciò？ Col cavolo。2。 L’incredibile varietà dei temi trattati。 La raccolta comprende quasi tutti gli scritti di Lebowitz， finti-manuali ironici e micro racconti di vita vissuta sui temi più disparati。 Perché Fran è così: ha un’opinione praticamente su tutto ed è un’opinione che non sta mai nel mezzo。 Sferzante e tremendamente diretta， la sua grande amica Toni Morrison diceva di lei “Ha sempre ragione perché non è mai imparziale”。 3。 L’ironia。Perché Fran Lebowitz rappresenta l’ultima anticonformista rimasta del politicamente “scorretto ma educato” che non dissacra gli argomenti di cui parla per fare scandalo o provocare， ma solo invitando chi legge ad una disincantata autoironia。Provatela e poi ditemi: come si fa a non amarla？ 。。。more
Robin
，
Witty， however， some of the essays were a bit long and dare I say， a bit boring。 FL's talent is so much more suited to the visual - I'm thinking specifically of the recent Netflix program "Pretend it's a City。" Her vignettes were much more effective and entertaining when combined with her perfect delivery！ Witty， however， some of the essays were a bit long and dare I say， a bit boring。 FL's talent is so much more suited to the visual - I'm thinking specifically of the recent Netflix program "Pretend it's a City。" Her vignettes were much more effective and entertaining when combined with her perfect delivery！ 。。。more
The book-addicted teenager
，
Wow。 You should definitely watch 'Pretend It's a City'。 It's a great mini series， but this book is。。。 Wow。 It's ruff。 Let's just say these articles aren't made to be bounded up together。 Wow。 You should definitely watch 'Pretend It's a City'。 It's a great mini series， but this book is。。。 Wow。 It's ruff。 Let's just say these articles aren't made to be bounded up together。 。。。more
Myriam
，
Not gonna lie， sometimes I had no clue about what she's talking about and the reading became tedious。 Other times I found her hilarious。 Overall， she's funnier in speech rather than in writing， or maybe I'm missing the whole spirit of the book。 Not gonna lie， sometimes I had no clue about what she's talking about and the reading became tedious。 Other times I found her hilarious。 Overall， she's funnier in speech rather than in writing， or maybe I'm missing the whole spirit of the book。 。。。more
kay
，
Some occasional funny bits but generally outdated and kind of exhausting to read
Jennifer
，
This was difficult to read in one go。
Alan Maxwell
，
I purchased this book when when I read the author compared to Dorothy Parker， my favorite satirist of all time。 Ms。 Lebowitz is a very funny lady but I find her more entertaining watching her in videos and tv shows。 Several of these selections are very funny but most are somewhat predictable。
Sara Marzocchi
，
Esilarante a livelli altissimi。 Buon libro "estivo": capitoli veloci da leggere， temi attuali affrontati senza scrupoli e con molta irriverenza。 Che dire， approcciatevi prima alla serie su Netflix per capire se può piacervi Fran come personaggio！ Esilarante a livelli altissimi。 Buon libro "estivo": capitoli veloci da leggere， temi attuali affrontati senza scrupoli e con molta irriverenza。 Che dire， approcciatevi prima alla serie su Netflix per capire se può piacervi Fran come personaggio！ 。。。more
George
，
Fun！ Some of the pieces felt a bit dated， but over all a good time。 I agree with many other readers that reading the book in chunks is the way to go， as it isn’t a read through sort of book。 Some of these pieces are laugh out loud funny and others just a quick chuckle。 But if you’ve ever seen here interviewed， remember her voice， and can hear it as you read， you’ll enjoy it more。
Martina Pizzoni
，
io : blocco del lettore = fran : blocco dello scrittoresanta fran da new york dimostrami che -（-） fa davvero +
reqbat
，
Fran is an amazing writer but her works as a collection end up being page after page of albeit sharp-witted whingeing- she’s GREAT， but it’s a lot to take in。 Prob much better digested on a one-a-week diet。
Ceren Altincekic
，
Sure， outdated references and concepts。。。 but pretty funny often times。 If you like sarcasm and satire， this is an oldie but a goodie。Go Fran！
Emily
，
A lot of this has not aged well
patri
，
that writer's block（ade）'s a binch because Fran Lebowitz's bitingly wry remarks， rapid-fire wit and razor-sharp way with words are an almost unrivalled boon if her work fits your bill as a reader - i just wish her rarefied worldview wasn't so restricted in what topics is tackles and topography it treats。 that writer's block（ade）'s a binch because Fran Lebowitz's bitingly wry remarks， rapid-fire wit and razor-sharp way with words are an almost unrivalled boon if her work fits your bill as a reader - i just wish her rarefied worldview wasn't so restricted in what topics is tackles and topography it treats。 。。。more
Chey
，
I really enjoy Fran in Public Speaking and her other talks， but her writing was， as one reviewer put it， "all wit， no world view。" After reading this， I'm surprised that she has had writing block for the past forty years since her writing is essentially a grocery list of opinions dressed up in pretentious flair。 I really enjoy Fran in Public Speaking and her other talks， but her writing was， as one reviewer put it， "all wit， no world view。" After reading this， I'm surprised that she has had writing block for the past forty years since her writing is essentially a grocery list of opinions dressed up in pretentious flair。 。。。more
Ewan
，
Compendium copy of Metropolitan Life and the other one that I forgot the name of。 Social Studies？ Yes， that's the one。 Fran Lebowitz is an interesting person， no doubts about that。 Her documentary on Netflix alongside Martin Scorsese， Pretend It's A City， provides better examples of her outlook and reasoning than her written work does。 Between these two books， there are a dozen or so articles of genuine interest， and the rest feel like they take her persona too literally。 She does not care about Compendium copy of Metropolitan Life and the other one that I forgot the name of。 Social Studies？ Yes， that's the one。 Fran Lebowitz is an interesting person， no doubts about that。 Her documentary on Netflix alongside Martin Scorsese， Pretend It's A City， provides better examples of her outlook and reasoning than her written work does。 Between these two books， there are a dozen or so articles of genuine interest， and the rest feel like they take her persona too literally。 She does not care about the world around her。 Why， then， is she writing about her observations？ 。。。more
Beatrice Tibaldini
，
Fran Lebowitz è ironica， spontanea， particolare。。 e il libro racchiude tutto questo。Da leggere assolutamente， per sorridere come se si fosse in compagnia di una vecchia amica。Consigliatissimo。
Libri da Scoprire
，
Una chiacchierata onesta， divertente e attuale con l'autrice。Non mi è dispiaciuto。 Una chiacchierata onesta， divertente e attuale con l'autrice。Non mi è dispiaciuto。 。。。more
Ann Nace
，
I jumped on the Pretend It's a City bandwagon， and I'm not apologizing。 Lebowitz is required reading for anyone claiming to have a sense of humor。 I'm not even going to try to critique a master。 I jumped on the Pretend It's a City bandwagon， and I'm not apologizing。 Lebowitz is required reading for anyone claiming to have a sense of humor。 I'm not even going to try to critique a master。 。。。more
Molly MacGilbert
，
I love Fran Lebowitz， and I definitely chuckled a few times while reading this book。 But I don’t think it’s meant to be read cover to cover — I think it would’ve been better to just pick it up and read a random essay when the mood struck。 Some of the material didn’t age well， but that’s to be expected… Obviously her humor is very cynical/critical， which I feel is better in small doses and/or better when she’s delivering it vocally so you can get a sense of the lightness behind it。 I have a very I love Fran Lebowitz， and I definitely chuckled a few times while reading this book。 But I don’t think it’s meant to be read cover to cover — I think it would’ve been better to just pick it up and read a random essay when the mood struck。 Some of the material didn’t age well， but that’s to be expected… Obviously her humor is very cynical/critical， which I feel is better in small doses and/or better when she’s delivering it vocally so you can get a sense of the lightness behind it。 I have a very dry sense of humor， but at times her humor was a little too dry on the page。 She does know how to turn a phrase， though！ 。。。more
Do_81
，
The first few essays I could have written in high school; exactly that style of funny hating on everything。 I am a fan of Fran Lebowitz but in her writing it's a bit much， she needs someone else to banter with， something to offset her。 The first few essays I could have written in high school; exactly that style of funny hating on everything。 I am a fan of Fran Lebowitz but in her writing it's a bit much， she needs someone else to banter with， something to offset her。 。。。more
Yla-Lineli Odefors
，
TRANSPHOBE
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Fran Lebowitz Reader
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Fran Lebowitz Reader&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft