DILETTANTE

Coming of age at Vanity Fair.

In this entertaining memoir, Brown tracks his colorful yet unlikely 25-year career at the iconic publication, which began in the early 1990s when he was hired as Graydon Carter’s assistant. The author was working as a barback at a famous New York City restaurant when Carter approached him with this unprecedented opportunity. Though Brown was a self-described club kid and college dropout, Carter recognized something more: a hardy work ethic, loyalty, and genuine likability, which set him apart from the typical moneyed, socially connected candidates. Carter’s hunch about Brown would quickly prove accurate. Though the subtitle suggests a tabloid-esque exposé, the author offers grounded and insightful observations—not only about the internal workings at Vanity Fair, but also major shifts in a media world rapidly transitioning to digital platforms and up-to-the-moment information content alongside rapidly evolving American cultural tastes. The author celebrates “the magazine business; the nineties and the aughts; the end of the millennium and the American century; highs and lows of culture, journalism, media, and technology; disruption and change; the zeitgeist; baby boomers; Gen X; millennials and Gen Z; New York the place; New York the idea; generational shifts and rifts; a country attempting to pivot to whatever’s next, struggling with an identity crisis and what the hell we are—individually and collectively.” Along the way, Brown relates amusing stories of encounters with the likes of Donald Trump, Kim Kardashian, and Caitlin Jenner, yet more notable sections focus on talented journalists such as Dominick Dunne and Buzz Bissinger and showcase moving reflections on writers Christopher Hitchens and A.A. Gill. The author offers sharp and balanced perspectives of Anna Wintour and Tina Brown, recognizing each as formidable, hyperambitious, shrewd, and accomplished businesswomen. Throughout, Carter’s larger-than-life presence serves as the narrative lynchpin, and Brown’s affectionate portrait is a tribute to Carter’s accomplishments and generosity as a quintessential mentor in a high-pressure organization.

An immensely engaging memoir and inside view of the magazine world.