How to Lose Friends and Alienate People

July 17, 2002 9:34 AM

How to Lose Friends and Alienate People I've been waiting for months to post about this. Since I don't remember anyone posting the NYT article about this and Toby Young amuses me to no end, I thought this article is an ideal introduction. (more inside)
posted by rodz (11 comments total)

First- disclosure. I do work for the publishing company that's distributing the book in America, but the whole idea of underling revenge fills me with a malcontent's glee.
Second- I really liked the book and I think Toby's antics are amusing.
One more caveat: this is very New York centric.
posted by rodz at 9:48 AM on July 17, 2002

At one point, I almost persuaded him to run a profile of Jay McInerney in which I treated the ubiquitous partygoer as if he was a notorious literary recluse in the same vein as J.D. Salinger and Thomas Pynchon. Headline: "Who is the elusive Jay McInerney and why is he so publicity-shy?" But Graydon's newly developed sense of caution got the better of him. As he frequently points out, he has four kids to put through school.

One of the co-founders of Spy wouldn't take a shot at Jay McInerney? Up is down! Black is white!

[On preview: McInerney spellchecks as eminence. It is to laugh.]
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 9:49 AM on July 17, 2002

Here's an excerpt from his book, quite funny stuff... he gives the impression that dealing with magazine editors requires the etiquette of a 10th century Japanese Counselor (sorry I'm reading Genji).
posted by bobo123 at 10:42 AM on July 17, 2002

Actually, from my experience, dealing with magazine editors requires the etiquette of a 10th century japanese geisha. But that's why I got out of journalism.
posted by SpecialK at 10:51 AM on July 17, 2002

saw this on gulfstream abit ago, FYI :) i don't really get it!

btw, michael young, RIP.
posted by kliuless at 10:57 AM on July 17, 2002

Heard about this book and this guy on the Todd Mundt show on NPR during my lunch break. Sounds great. Good link.
posted by jennyb at 11:36 AM on July 17, 2002

Good for Toby Young!
posted by MiguelCardoso at 12:41 PM on July 17, 2002

SpecialK: There weren't any 10th-century geisha. Good choice on getting out of journalism.
posted by bingo at 1:07 PM on July 17, 2002

Aha! I knew I'd heard of Toby Young before. He's the same whining git who wrote this article in Salon a while back. As much as I like to read about the fevered egos of the publishing elite, I'm not about to give this wanker some of my hard-earned cash just so I can read stories about his continuing incompetance. Get stuffed, Toby!
posted by RakDaddy at 1:43 PM on July 17, 2002

I love the word "wanker". It always makes me think of Spinal Tapp.
posted by timeistight at 1:55 PM on July 17, 2002

I love the word "wanker". It always makes me think of Spinal Tapp.

It makes me think of Ivor Biggun and the Red-Nosed Burglars, perpetrators of "The Wanker's Song". Oh wait, sorry ... the official title is "The Winker's Song (misprint)".

Very highbrow stuff.
posted by chuq at 6:34 PM on July 17, 2002