First published 1997
Pagan Kennedy transforms from zine publisher and thrift store devotee into the ultimate social guide for Generation X. She addresses anxious twenty-somethings who frequent coffee shops, vintage stores, and underground poetry readings. Kennedy maps out the unspoken protocols that govern hipster culture, from proper slacker etiquette to retro fashion choices. College students wandering between downtown art scenes and uptown aspirations find their compass here. The book serves as both manual and mirror for those who already inhabit alternative spaces but need help navigating their social complexities. Kennedy writes for readers who understand the cultural references but struggle with the behavioral codes. Her advice targets people comfortable with secondhand furniture and vegetarian dining but uncertain about social positioning within their tribe.
Genres: coming-of-age, contemporary, non-fiction, 21st-century, alternative-medicine, cultural-studies
Vibes: intimate, social, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, social-commentary
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
122 pages · Paperback · St Martins Pr