The Season: Inside Palm Beach and America's Richest Society

by Ronald Kessler

Book Overview

Palm Beach is known around the world as the most wealthy, glamorous, opulent, decadent, self-indulgent, sinful spot on earth. With their beautiful 3.75 square-island constantly in the media glare, Palm Beachers protect their impossibly rich society from outside scrutiny with vigilant police, ubiquitous personal security staffs, and screens of tall hedges encircling every mansion.

To this bizarre suspicious, exclusive world, New York Times...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060193913
• ISBN13: 9780060193911
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Harper
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 1.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.1" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Interesting & Well-written

In THE SEASON, Ronald Kessler gives an interesting overview into life in Palm Beach. Palm Beach is very much America's Riviera, and Kessler offers his readers a bird's eye look into the resort's peculiar rhythms, and into its manners. In every situation, Palm Beach marches to the beat of its very own drummer, a drummer who is banging out his music with "D" color, Asscher-cut, flawless diamonds encrusted on platinum drumsticks. My biggest complaint is a backward compliment: I wish that this book were longer, and that it could have covered more of PB's inhabitants and their fascinating escapades. Still, no question that author Kessler has done a thorough job of communicating what life is like in this gilded community. If the book is somewhat superficial, nattering on about Grand Dukes and Duchesses, famous charity balls that raise almost no funds for their charities, rare cars, exclusive jewelers, dressmakers and decorators, well, this also perfectly reflects the superficiality of the town itself.I also found it disruptive to the flow of Kessler's text when he interjected personal comments about himself and his wife, such as the facts that he is Jewish while she is a member of the DAR. Really, this wasn't a family biography. Still, Kessler's own endnotes thank his editor for insisting on this literary device, so I guess that the inclusion of personal details was not his decision.For those who are curious about America's own Cannes-off-Interstate 95, THE SEASON is the best book around!

Great Book about Palm Beach

I thoroughly enjoyed Ron Kessler's book, it is an accurate portrait of Palm Beach, as I remember it! My favorite stories surround Lorraine, who couldnt find a man in all of Palm Beach, I could identify with her, having a few horror stories of the male egos that live there of my own. It was funny and entertaining and the photos by Stephen Solomon are very good. I recommend this book.

Only the rich can be this petty

A behind the scenes look at some of Americas richest people. As I read this book, I laughed often. The pettyness of the rich and privledged, the stupidity of trust fund babies, and the energy these people spend on keeping up false personas is amazing. Some of the people interviewed want us to feel sorry for them as they try to claw their way up Palm Beaches inner circle. What I found particularly interesting is how much money they really raise for charity by having Charity Balls. Light reading for a good laugh.

Light fun read!

This is an eye opening look at Palm Beach society featuring big bucks and big boobs (2 kinds of boobs-silicone and people!) Seriously,Kessler devotes a whole chapter to the fake breasts that dot the Palm Beach landscape! And the silly, snobby behavior of some of the locals is described by Kessler in great detail. The money must grow on palm trees there too. Kessler describes in depth how the $$$ are made, spent and used as tools to further "ones position". And there are lots of $$$ flowing. Kessler does tend to focus though on limited areas in Palm Beach. At times I felt as though I was reading an advertisement for the Palm Beach restaurant Taboo. Not that it wasnt interesting. I had lunch at Taboo several years ago and never realized that folks there have been know to pay $500 for twinkies with cream and leave their panties for the busboy. If I ever get back there I will certainly be more attentive! I was also surprised to read that Donald Trump who does not play well in the media often coming across as self centered and immature actually listens to people and appears interested in them.(Or did the private flight in "the Donalds" plane influence Kesslers opinion?) Regardless of what his true character is, sounds like the Trump is shaking up the Palm Beach area with his gusto and drive! I am so sorry I did not get a chance to visit Donald's club while I was there...Sounds gorgeous, if one can afford the dues! It was also interesting to read that Palm Beach is considered very safe. Unfortunately I had a bad experience just on the outskirts after dining at the absolutely exquisite Breakers hotel (which is not mentioned in the book enough) that has not helped my feelings towards the town despite its great beauty. The book is gossipy, revealing and definately a juicy read. I do wish though that Kessler had explored some other avenues in the town and not focused primarily on Taboo and just a few other places. Overall though a nice, light read. Perfect for the pool! (Oh you say its winter where you are? Well why aren't you flying to one of your other homes for the season?!)