In-Class Exercise, Bobos in Paradise
In Bobos in Paradise, David Brooks writes, “Shopping may not be the most intellectual
exercise on earth, but it is one of the most culturally revealing” (p. 61). Discuss the
shopping habits of a typical Bobo (either yourself or “a friend.”) Where do they shop?
What do they buy? How do they make their income to support their lifestyle? How do
they talk about their income and job? What are the important purchases they make? What
might they buy for important occasions? What are the important occasions? Trace the life
and lifestyle of someone just graduating college for the next decade or so.