Lebowitz is a polarizing character, the kind of acerbic, callous, sarcastic, urbane wit that can enrage people with more traditional American values (just check out the one star reviews on Amazon). While many of her essays feel dated and of their time (which makes sense), there's a wicked glee in re-reading this subversive collection. She's often (and fairly, in my opinion) compared to predecessor Dorothy Parker despite a fairly slim resume (aside from stints at magazines, she's really only written the two essays compiled in this book – Metropolitan Life, released in 1978 and 1981's Social Studies.)
But what do you think?