Give me a Brahmin over a Quant any day. by Christopher Orlet, from The American Spectator IN HIS classic study Democracy in America (1835), Alexis de Tocqueville described what he believed was a true meritocracy at work. Here was a country lacking a nobility and an aristocracy. The Adamses, the closest America had to an … More The Limits of Meritocracy
The large and small of Florence, Italy: the Duomo, difficult to get all of it in one photo…and the gelato, difficult to not want to eat all in one bite. Grazie. BGT
Acclaimed Washington Post reporter Pamela Constable discusses her WASPy Connecticut upbringing, and the values that came with it, in this poignant and inspiring article. Enjoy.
The thing that we always remember, and are often reminded of, is that we’ve had every advantage: solid family environment, access to healthcare and education, travel, a support system of teachers, friends, and a social network, all contributing to a pretty constructive childhood and adolescence. So to brag about your accomplishments is a little gauche. … More Old Money: In Their Own Words
I had breakfast the other day with a friend of a friend. His family has managed an inheritance pretty well for the past two generations, and he’d been steered to the Old Money Book blog. While he freely admits he barely graduated from college (he liked to party), he’s now a successful real estate developer, … More The Custodian Mindset
The war against euphemism and cliché matters not because we can guarantee that eliminating them will help us speak nothing but the truth but, rather, because eliminating them from our language is an act of courage that helps us get just a little closer to the truth. Clear speech takes courage. Every time we tell … More Old Money Preference: Plain Speaking
I’ve read your book, and I have mixed emotions about it. In some respects I feel like you’ve pulled back the curtain and explained a little too much to people who might use the information to pose and climb. At other moments, I feel like you’ve advocated for us, stating our case without the silliness … More Old Money: In Their Own Words