Oh the Glory of It All

by Sean Wilsey

Book Overview

"In the beginning we were happy. And we were always excessive. So in the beginning we were happy to excess."

With these opening lines Sean Wilsey takes us on an exhilarating tour of life in the strangest, wealthiest, and most grandiose of families.

Sean's mother is a 1980s society-page staple, regularly entertaining Black Panthers and movie stars in her marble and glass penthouse. His enigmatic father uses a jet helicopter to...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0143036912
• ISBN13: 9780143036913
• Release Date: April 2006
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Length: 512 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Lifestyles of the Rich and Dysfunctional

This book perfectly reflects the incestuous, self congratulatory, excess that is the microcosm of San Francisco/Napa 'society'. The author, Sean Wilsey, is fortunate to have extricated himself from a life as just another trust fund heir attending the repetitive round of San Francisco benefits with the same group of 'swells'. Instead, he managed to escape this fate by surviving extraordinarily dysfunctional parents (as well as a manipulative, sociopathic, narcissistic step-mother, smarmy indiferent step-brothers) and a troubled, drug- addled 'slacker' adolescence spent at boarding schools. It is amazing that this biography keeps it's humor and self-effacing, honest tone throughout. Yes, it does drag a bit during the 'stoner' phase of the authors life but Sean Wilsey spares no embarrasing details of his bewildering childhood, and it is astonishingly self-aware and self-critical. This book reveals a lifestyle that cares more about money and social status than personal relationships. Dede Wilsey, the calculating step-mother, manages to insinuate herself into the Wilsey's life by posing as a best friend and confidante, only to seduce Sean's father and betray both Sean and his mother. Her greed and cruelty is truly breathtaking. Sean's mother is also a very self-absorbed woman with definite illusions of grandeur. In spite of her reversal of fortune as the ex-Mrs. Wilsey, Sean's mother does redeem herself by spearheading an international peace movement, surrounding herself with an eclectic array of friends (including Gorbachev, Pope John Paul II, Madame Sadat) This book exposes an elite eschelon of San Francisco society in the 70's and 80's filled with divorce and ex-spouses 'Falcon Crest' style. The ending is redemptive as Sean's father (who is intimidated and controlled by his ambitious young wife) does reveal his love for his son and the two have a touching reunion toward the end of the elder Wilsey's life. One hopes after reading this book that Karma will indeed bear out for the greedy step family who nearly managed to shut out Sean Wilsey from his father.

One of the Best Books I've Read in Years

The test of a great book is whether it stays with you, not just from the standpoint of recommending it to your friends, but also whether it changes the way you think. I could not get this book out of my mind for days after I finished it. This is the best book I've read in 2005. Not only is this a fascinating commentary on how the rich and famous live, it's also heartrendingly honest, tragic, and laugh-out-loud funny. Sean's recollection of his trip to Russia on his mother's first "peace mission" is so funny it should be mandatory reading for creative writers. His honesty about his efforts to be the cool kid made me laugh and cry at the same time, particularly since I was the same age as Sean in the 1980s. I did not think less of Sean as he told of his prep school experiences and less-than-flattering behavior. On the contrary, the courage to write such a memoir generated my respect. Sean came through a terrible childhood where he was treated with less regard than the family dog, yet he still emerged a decent and thriving human being. As for Dede Wilsey, who supposedly is threatening to sue Sean Wilsey, I believe every word about her in this book. The proof speaks for itself. For starters, she just donated $10 million to the De Young while her stepsons were left penniless after Al Wilsey's death. We reap what we sow. The world would be a better place if every wicked stepmother had a book written about her while she was still alive and kicking to read it. It's such great poetic justice.

A Compelling Read

As a former San Francisco resident and social column reader, I bought this book thinking it may be interesting to read about the true life of the high and mighty San Francisco social scene. Instead what I got was one of the most compelling coming of age stories I have ever read. Even if I had never heard of these people, I still would have been caught up in the travails of Sean Wilsey. What a difficult, interesting life, and so very well written. Good for you Sean.

OH TO BE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR

Entertaining, moving and strong. To me, a memoir's strength rests in its conclusion. And this story concludes elegantly and powerfully. Once you're there, the energy of the preceding 450 pages fold back on themselves like a wave breaking on the beach. If you're prospecting for the much publicized scandal and dirt in here, you'll find it. But if that's your sole motivation for reading this, sadly, you'll miss the point. I've read many memoirs and this one was a highlight in the pile. Glorious!