The Hipster Handbook
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''The Hipster Handbook'' (2003) is a satirical guide to hipster culture by
Williamsburg, Brooklyn Williamsburg is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, bordered by Greenpoint to the north; Bedford–Stuyvesant to the south; Bushwick and East Williamsburg to the east; and the East River to the west. It was an independe ...
author
Robert Lanham Robert Lanham (born 1971 in Richmond, Virginia) is the author of the satiric books '' The Hipster Handbook'', ''Food Court Druids, Cherohonkees, and Other Creatures Unique to the Republic'', and ''The Sinner's Guide to the Evangelical Right.'' He c ...
. It includes a
lexicon A lexicon (plural: lexicons, rarely lexica) is the vocabulary of a language or branch of knowledge (such as nautical or medical). In linguistics, a lexicon is a language's inventory of lexemes. The word ''lexicon'' derives from Greek word () ...
of words such as "deck" which means " cool" and "fin" which means "not so cool", as well as chapters that describe and explain all that which makes up a hipster. A quiz in the back of the book rates readers on their level of hipsterdom, rewarding high scores to those who answer the questions in the manner of art school students and well-cultured, well-dressed, self-proclaimed hyper-intellectuals. ''
Esquire Esquire (, ; abbreviated Esq.) is usually a courtesy title. In the United Kingdom, ''esquire'' historically was a title of respect accorded to men of higher social rank, particularly members of the landed gentry above the rank of gentleman ...
'' called the book "The ''
Official Preppy Handbook ''The Official Preppy Handbook'' (1980) is a Satire, satirical reference guide edited by Lisa Birnbach and written by Jonathan Roberts (writer), Jonathan Roberts, Carol McD. Wallace, Mason Wiley, and Birnbach. It discusses an aspect of North Amer ...
'' for people who wear
Atari Atari () is a brand name that has been owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by French holding company Atari SA (formerly Infogrames) and its focus is on "video games, consumer hardware, licensing and bl ...
T-shirts."


Critical reception

Reviews were mixed. Rick Marin, of the ''New York Times'', gave it a favorable review, though he pointed out "much of the hipsterism he sanctions seems pretty mainstream, even if it is being 'appropriated'...Such quibbles, though, won't penetrate the protective pomo coating on Lanham's mirrored shades." Ben McGrath, of ''Slate'', described the book as "so comprehensive and so well-done that only a poseur could criticize it without tongue in cheek." Others have criticized the "veiled
hostility Hostility is seen as a form of emotionally charged aggressive behavior. In everyday speech, it is more commonly used as a synonym for anger and aggression. It appears in several psychological theories. For instance it is a Facet (psychology), f ...
" and "aura of trying too hard." A sequel was published in 2004: ''Food Court Druids, Cherohonkees and Other Creatures Unique to the Republic''.


See also

* Grunge speak


References


External links


Origin siteAuthor site
2003 non-fiction books Popular culture books Satirical books Hipster (contemporary subculture) Anchor Books books {{popular-culture-book-stub