Love the book. My takeaway was how there are always folks that take any headlining story and try to twist it toward their purposes despite the fact they “frankly don’t give a damn”.
If it bleeds it leads so once there is significant interest it time to jump on and pull a redirect regardless of any real connection.
To me that was the title was about. I find your take a step deeper into the characters pulling me back into the story.
A few years ago, for the first time in my life, I crossed over into earning six figures. I can now afford a house in my area, pay for the normal run of activities for my daughters, and buy more books when I feel like it. I can remember the days of putting exactly enough gas in my car to get to the bookstore and back with something quite well, so as far as I’m concerned, I’ve made it.
Your essay illuminates the fact that some people can go broke on any amount of money, and people with those kinds of spending habits can exceed any amount of income. Here's is my farcical example, in which I'll play such a person for a moment:
The constant drumbeat of putdowns of rich people is completely unfair. The fact is, rich people need things other people don't need. For example, I pay a fortune for my kidnap and ransom insurance. The guy running the corner store doesn't understand how much that costs, or, at least, my butler says he doesn't.
To keep my helicopters in good trim, I have to repaint them monthly. My color consultant suggests new paint schemes each time, but the painters cost a fortune. My butler doesn't like to travel by helicopter, so I have to retain a helicopter butler and send my usual butler by private car to my destination.
It's critical to maintain quality. People don't understand the importance of having solid precious metal accessories as opposed to ones that are merely plated. The bathroom fixtures and door hardware in each and every one of my houses are white gold - gaudy yellowish plating is for tasteless parvenus. Ditto on my helicopters, planes, and yachts.
As far as art goes, I stick to NFTs. How else do I know it's not a forgery?
The same principles apply to fashion. None of the fake stuff for me. I maintain my own mink farm to supply my fur-related needs. When I wear down, it's swans' down; for decorative feathers, I use ostrich.
Of course, the same principles hold true for food. My chefs use exclusively Nepali Yak butter. I have greenhouses near each of my houses (but out of view) to supply the latest in fresh ingredients. For my warm-climate homes, these greenhouses are air-conditioned.
It's true that I do spend a lot on my precious dogs, Lauren, Elon, Leona, and Anant! I maintain a grooming staff at each of my houses and travel with an emergency dog groomer at all times. Nothing is too good for them! Generally I buy Prada dog accessories, which are a good value.
And I do care about value.
Which leads me to the importance of sustainability. I re-wear everything at least once. And when I'm done with any particular item, I have the butler deliver it to the nearest cotillion committee. I'm very committed to helping the less fortunate. It's regrettable that so few people understand the special challenges I face or appreciate my resolve to spread a little sunshine wherever I go.
Might be Merdle over the Veneerings. They don't have enough money to live like impoverished plutocrats! Those who do live that way are rather Dickensian, though!
Money does buy happiness, and you will feel wealth, if not wealthy - when you can afford all the quotidian expenses of ordinary life without a care - a visit to the dentist, car repairs, a dinner out, occasional good seats at a basketball game, streaming services, birthday presents for the kids, and a nice green lawn.
I think being satisfied with what you have is a huge part of living a happy life. That has very little, but definitely some, to do with absolute numbers.
Struggling to pay rent or choosing between heating oil and medications leads to a level of chronic stress that makes it hard to be really happy. Once these kinds of needs are met with a little bit of wiggle room, being happy becomes more a matter of character and disposition, it seems to me.
After a life of eking by, I managed to get a decent job in insurance. The money is finally there to live a modest life, so I read with horror and revulsion at such spendthrift ways.
My father was an overworked CPA and while others kids were tasked with mowing the lawn, my earliest chore was learning how to balance his books. That and the parable of the talents ingrained in me a strict financial rectitude.
How much better life is when you first learn to be good steward of little amount.
Sorry to hear about your dad, David.
Love the book. My takeaway was how there are always folks that take any headlining story and try to twist it toward their purposes despite the fact they “frankly don’t give a damn”.
If it bleeds it leads so once there is significant interest it time to jump on and pull a redirect regardless of any real connection.
To me that was the title was about. I find your take a step deeper into the characters pulling me back into the story.
Nice! Thx.
https://probonoobserver.substack.com/p/mother-of-the-automatic-dishwasher
A few years ago, for the first time in my life, I crossed over into earning six figures. I can now afford a house in my area, pay for the normal run of activities for my daughters, and buy more books when I feel like it. I can remember the days of putting exactly enough gas in my car to get to the bookstore and back with something quite well, so as far as I’m concerned, I’ve made it.
Your father is in my prayers.
I'm sorry to hear about your father.
Your essay illuminates the fact that some people can go broke on any amount of money, and people with those kinds of spending habits can exceed any amount of income. Here's is my farcical example, in which I'll play such a person for a moment:
The constant drumbeat of putdowns of rich people is completely unfair. The fact is, rich people need things other people don't need. For example, I pay a fortune for my kidnap and ransom insurance. The guy running the corner store doesn't understand how much that costs, or, at least, my butler says he doesn't.
To keep my helicopters in good trim, I have to repaint them monthly. My color consultant suggests new paint schemes each time, but the painters cost a fortune. My butler doesn't like to travel by helicopter, so I have to retain a helicopter butler and send my usual butler by private car to my destination.
It's critical to maintain quality. People don't understand the importance of having solid precious metal accessories as opposed to ones that are merely plated. The bathroom fixtures and door hardware in each and every one of my houses are white gold - gaudy yellowish plating is for tasteless parvenus. Ditto on my helicopters, planes, and yachts.
As far as art goes, I stick to NFTs. How else do I know it's not a forgery?
The same principles apply to fashion. None of the fake stuff for me. I maintain my own mink farm to supply my fur-related needs. When I wear down, it's swans' down; for decorative feathers, I use ostrich.
Of course, the same principles hold true for food. My chefs use exclusively Nepali Yak butter. I have greenhouses near each of my houses (but out of view) to supply the latest in fresh ingredients. For my warm-climate homes, these greenhouses are air-conditioned.
It's true that I do spend a lot on my precious dogs, Lauren, Elon, Leona, and Anant! I maintain a grooming staff at each of my houses and travel with an emergency dog groomer at all times. Nothing is too good for them! Generally I buy Prada dog accessories, which are a good value.
And I do care about value.
Which leads me to the importance of sustainability. I re-wear everything at least once. And when I'm done with any particular item, I have the butler deliver it to the nearest cotillion committee. I'm very committed to helping the less fortunate. It's regrettable that so few people understand the special challenges I face or appreciate my resolve to spread a little sunshine wherever I go.
Well done Claire. I’m reading Our Mutual Friend, and Dickens would appreciate your 2026 take on the Veneering crowd.
Might be Merdle over the Veneerings. They don't have enough money to live like impoverished plutocrats! Those who do live that way are rather Dickensian, though!
What a delicious analysis.
Also, “preposition” made me laugh. Without that I would have assumed the listing was AI.
Money does buy happiness, and you will feel wealth, if not wealthy - when you can afford all the quotidian expenses of ordinary life without a care - a visit to the dentist, car repairs, a dinner out, occasional good seats at a basketball game, streaming services, birthday presents for the kids, and a nice green lawn.
Get well soon, David's dad!
I think being satisfied with what you have is a huge part of living a happy life. That has very little, but definitely some, to do with absolute numbers.
Struggling to pay rent or choosing between heating oil and medications leads to a level of chronic stress that makes it hard to be really happy. Once these kinds of needs are met with a little bit of wiggle room, being happy becomes more a matter of character and disposition, it seems to me.
Praying for your dad. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Your father is in my prayers.
After a life of eking by, I managed to get a decent job in insurance. The money is finally there to live a modest life, so I read with horror and revulsion at such spendthrift ways.
My father was an overworked CPA and while others kids were tasked with mowing the lawn, my earliest chore was learning how to balance his books. That and the parable of the talents ingrained in me a strict financial rectitude.
How much better life is when you first learn to be good steward of little amount.