Crazy Money With Paul Ollinger

Lisa Birnbach is the author of over 20 books, includingThe Official Preppy Handbook, which became a cultural phenomenon in the early 1980’s. The book sold more than a million copies, has been cited as an inspiration to the founder of J. Crew and is thought to have boosted the growth of LL Bean.  InT.O.P.H., Birnbach celebrated, skewered, and democratized the concept of preppiness with writing the The New York Times described as “affectionate but acerbic.” Upon re-visiting the book, I found her reflections on money, fashion, status, and the social hierarchy as insightful and hilarious today as they were forty years ago. In this thoroughly enjoyable interview, we talk about the preppy aesthetic, Connecticut, and how the world has (and hasn’t) changed since she launched this juggernaut into being.  Celebrated for her keen eye and sharp wit, Lisa Birnbach is an award-winning journalist, cultural commentator, and best-selling author. She has written for The New York Times, The New Yorker, Parade, Rolling Stone, an