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Book Nook provides readers with insights into the world of books. Vick Mickunas takes you into the center of the publishing world with the latest book buzz, book reviews, and exclusive chats with authors..Home > Blogs > Book Nook > Archives > 2008 > June > 25
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
stuff white people like
Are you white? Me too. I just found the perfect book for white people and for people who want to try to understand us. Maybe. Perhaps. Who knows?
It’s The Definitive Guide to Stuff White People Like - the Unique Taste of Millions (Random House) by Christian Lander.
Lander is the creator of the website Stuff White People Like. If you go to the website you’ll see some rather interesting stuff about white people. Here’s an example:
“Naturally, white people do not get offended by statements directed at white people. In fact, they don’t even have a problem making offensive statements about other white people (ask a white person about “flyover states”). As a rule, white people strongly prefer to get offended on behalf of other people.
It is also valuable to know that white people spend a significant portion of their time preparing for the moment when they will be offended. They read magazines, books, and watch documentaries all in hopes that one day they will encounter a person who will say something offensive. When this happens, they can leap into action with quotes, statistics, and historical examples. Once they have finished lecturing another white person about how it’s wrong to use the term “black” instead of “African-American,” they can sit back and relax in the knowledge that they have made a difference.
White people also get excited at the opportunity to be offended at things that are sexist and/or homophobic. Both cases offering ample opportunities for lectures, complaints, graduate classes, lengthy discussions and workshops. All of which do an excellent job of raising awareness among white people who hope to change their status from “not racist” to “super not racist.”
Another thing worth noting is that the threshold for being offended is a very important tool for judging and ranking white people. Missing an opportunity to be outraged is like missing a reference to Derrida-it’s social death.
If you ever need to make a white person feel indebted to you, wait for them to mention a book, film, or television show that features a character who is the same race as you, then say “the representation of
Ow!! The book will be out on July 1….is that all white with you….? How white are you? I flunked the quiz. I’m white. Here are some of the questions that got me:
Do you sip free trade organic coffee?
Do you read the New York Times or listen to NPR or read the Times while listening?
Do you own a vintage T-shirt?
Do you only drink organic milk?
Are you voting for Obama?
Did you rebel against your parents?
Do you own more echinacea than Tylenol?
Have a favorite wine region or microbrewery?
Have you ever had a subscription to the New Yorker?
Are you a DJ or have you ever been in love with one?
Have you attended a writer’s workshop?
Are you starting to get the idea? Of course you don’t have to be white to feel white, right?
In my defense: my vintage T-shirts were bought new, thank you!
Vick Mickunas
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