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November 10, 2002 Issue 
Snobbery, the American Version By Joseph Epstein 
Discovering Our Inner SnobJoseph Epstein's hot-off-the-press book "Snobbery, The American Version" has already acquired a cult following which ironically renders its reading a form of snobbery. But Epstein does not criticize American society for the forms and degrees of snobbery in which it engages. Rather, he analyses the concept of snobbery and the unique road it has traveled in the U.S. The book is a very interesting and entertaining sociological study suggesting that snobbery may be an indelible part of human nature. In order to put us at ease, the author starts the book with descriptions of his own snob attitudes. The word snob has entered the lexicon of almost every language today, yet its etymological origins are still a mystery. There are four possibilities for the origin of the word snob. Some etymologists believe that snob originates from a Scandinavian word meaning "a dolt, ...a boaster." Others maintain that it derives from the Latin abbreviation of "sine-nobilate", "s.nob", a description used at one time in universities at the end of the names of commoners. Yet a third group believes that snob is an antonym of nob. And finally, some etymologists believe that snob derives from the way French peasants pronounced "c'est noble". The author believes that "snob could also possibly derive from snub, though it might just as easily have been the other way around." The origin of the word snob is not nearly as important as its implications and use in a particular society. Epstein defines snob as "someone who practices, lives by, exults in the system of distinctions, discriminations, and social distractions that make up the field of play for snobbery." The author also uses numerous quotations from literature and philosophy to illustrate the meaning of snob and snobbery. Santayana is reputed to have said that to call a person a snob "is a very vague description but a very clear insult." He went on to write, "Snobbery haunts those who are not reconciled with themselves." Virginia Woolf, a self-acknowledged snob, wrote, "The essence of snobbery is that you wish to impress other people." And Epstein writes, "Snobbery, like religion, works through hope and fear. The snob hopes to position himself securely among those whom he takes to be the best, most elegant, virtuous, fashionable, or exciting people. He also fears contamination from those he deems beneath him." The origin of the word snob is not nearly as important as its implications and use in a particular society. Epstein defines snob as "someone who practices, lives by, exults in the system of distinctions, discriminations, and social distractions that make up the field of play for snobbery." The author also uses numerous quotations from literature and philosophy to illustrate the meaning of snob and snobbery. Santayana is reputed to have said that to call a person a snob "is a very vague description but a very clear insult." He went on to write, "Snobbery haunts those who are not reconciled with themselves." Virginia Woolf, a self-acknowledged snob, wrote, "The essence of snobbery is that you wish to impress other people." And Epstein writes, "Snobbery, like religion, works through hope and fear. The snob hopes to position himself securely among those whom he takes to be the best, most elegant, virtuous, fashionable, or exciting people. He also fears contamination from those he deems beneath him." Epstein, the author of numerous books of critical acclaim and for more than two decades the editor of "The American Scholar", currently teaches English and writing at Northwestern University. Reading "Snobbery" forces the reader into personal introspection and recognition of all the large and small ways in which we practice snobbery. Epstein does not go into the psychology of why some people are bigger snobs than others. From my perspective, some people indulge in snobbery to camouflage an inferiority complex, others - to lend themselves the dreaded self-esteem we are all encouraged to acquire. body Ophelia Georgiev Roop Library Director San Bernardino Public Library |
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