The Caucasian Persuasion

Christian Lander began his website Stuff White People Like (www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com) as an inside joke that poked fun at the homogeneity of his middle-class, college-educated white friends. It soon became an Internet sensation, to the tune of more than 40 million hits since its first post ("Coffee"). The site's popularity landed the humorist a book deal; the resulting Stuff White People Like, which compiles Lander's brief, piquant essays on white culture and includes new entries as well, purports to be the definitive guide to Whitey. Lander claims that his site and book are more about class than race, depicting an over-educated, over-cultured group of irony-loving people. And it is difficult to not see the humor and ridiculousness in many of his choices ("Girls with Bangs," "Grammar," "Wrigley Field"). Lander discusses and signs copies of his book tonight at 7 p.m. at Left Bank Books (399 North Euclid Avenue; 314-367-6731 or www.left-bank.com). Admission is free — and the place is sure to be packed with white people.
Mon., Oct. 13, 2008