A Great Gift for a dear friend! It could really cheer up a depressed bud, and just maybe make you even closer-- My suggestion if using this book as a present is to go in it and hi-lite several passages... Guarranteed to shed a few tears... It's great!

Great book! You'll find yourself nodding in agreement with all the cute "facts" about kids. Makes a great gift for anyone with kids. Good for "bathroom" reading!

When going through the tumultous college application process a few years ago, my prep school roommate and I found a copy of this book. Although it's now eighteen years old, it's still alarmingly accurate and relevant.

Don't be put off by Ms. Birnbach's "Put-Out Chart" or the listings of most popular drugs on campus. The book, though at times offensive to some, gives irreverent and spot-on portrayals of every campus.

Take one entry, for example. "It's not always going to be easy finding a parking space for your Mercedes at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Located in the swanky Highland Park district, the feeling is country club, not the United Methodist Church." (As any SMU student will tell you, this description is dead-on accurate.)

As far as the "New and Improved College Book," it's indeed new, but not improved. It lacks the charm and wit of the first College Book and seems geared more toward alumni and staff than prospective students.

If you're looking for the real deal in college guide books, Lisa Birnbach's College Book should be your number-one choice.

I begged Mummy and Daddy to let me go board, but they said they were saving for the Ivies. I ended up at an Ivy and wished it were one of the schools listed as a party school in OPH. Man, talking about literature imitating life. Holden Caulfield, eat your heart out! When I tell people about the way I dressed and how I spent every dime on those Gucci loafers they just look at me like I have three heads. People still sweat the cashmere blazer. Who wouldn't?

You will love this book especially if you were one of the few people that grew up in the eighties that still has pictures they aren't embarrased to show others!

My copy is from the library. It seems I lost it...;-) The fine was only 10 bucks and was worth every PREPPY PENNY!

Mummy, Daddy, Trip and Buffy eat your hearts out! This is the funniest book I've ever read, and I have to admit I've gleaned more than a couple of fashion hints from its sacred pages. While it is primarily a tongue-in-cheek spoof on old-line preppies, it is also a definitive, flawless, and well-written authority on The Tradition. Owning the out-of-print book is a coveted honor. And know to refer to it by its abbrevaition: The OPH. Find it in paperback, discuss it only with your preppiest friends, and tuck it away in a descreet bedroom drawer. And it is important to keep the rare item safe for passing it on to the future generations, as preppy style never ages.

So was the ultra-preppy exclamation of my time! I LIVED my high-school career based on this book, and let me say - I regret very little. Sure, my current high-school aged students laugh when I describe my fave outfit with its matching hot pink Polo shirt, kelly green a-line skirt and ribbon belt - I had the enviable glory of knowing that my actual Highland Park High School ranked in this,THE Official Preppy Handbook.

Honestly, just today I chuckled a bit when I noticed that the ex-sorority-prep-chick assistant to the recording-studio-exec. where I work was wearing (no lie) a whale belt with her capri khakis and navy polo shirt.

Long live Lisa Birnbach!!

My company has given out at least 500 of these books. We have senior citizen seminars and read a few excerpts from this book and give one away when attendees make an appointment with us. It is the "light" side of our seminar and we get so many questions on where to get this book - people love to use it as a gift! Some people tell us there are more than 1003 things and some tell us there isn't one good reason! However this book can lighten up even the cogiest old coot!! Love it!!

More like three and a half stars than four, this is a decent little gift.

I received this book as a gift when I turned -- well, that's not important. What is important is that this turned out to be a nice gift - not roll over laughing funny, but good for a cheerful, smile-provoking gift for friends turning one of the Big O's.

In this thick, but palm-sized paperback, the editors combined more than just a selection of platitudes, but provides a variety of semi-useful bits of information.

"What's so great about turning...." gives sappy reasons why your age - from 1 to 100 - is so good. There are reasons kids think being old is better ("I want to be older so I can make out checks and be a millionaire." John Semple, age seven) ; great things people have said about getting older; parting statements; how old you'd be if you lived on various planets (I personally prefer Mars, where a 50 year old is 27); a list of things life is now to short to do (doing push-ups; wondering if you should have gone to medical school instead); birthdates of several stars (from Mickey Rooney to Maccauley Caulkin) and bunches of other useless but amusing tidbits.

Those not amused by maturing might not find this a good gift, but for office gag gifts and add-ons to more meaningful gifts for that someone going over the hill (from 30 to 50 or so), this is a nice purchase for that "under $10.00" limit.

Here was the surprise book of the era. Something I give to every friend who turns 40 and over. Lots of laffs--yes with two ffs and seasoned pros behind it. Well done.

In 9th grade, I received this book from a well-wisher who somehow knew I would be going to college. While the book claimed to be national in scope and made some efforts to include diversity (minority and GLBT enrollment) the author ommitted non-flagship universities.

Recognizing there were time and space issues involved in the publication decision, the ommission also forgot other college guides have no problem finding and locating the smaller institutions. Ever increasing financial costs and college prep standards means these traditionally 'second-tier' institutions are growing in popularity, and Birnberg does her audience a great diservice by remaining so narrowly focused.

In today's world, the increasing internet availability (whether in a private home, or public library) means people can research colleges for themselves and not have to waste valuable time attempting to learn if there is a college who will assess their academic record, instead of total number of honors classes.

A very unique guide. This is the only college guide I found that covers moral situations on different campuses.

There are several good points about this book. It is not filled with statistics. It has several good student-voted ratings like "Institution's interest in students", "Student's academic interest", etc.

One complaint I have is that it does not indicate how it choose the colleges in this book.

This book is great for the snior looking at colleges. Barrons only list what the school offers for size, location, and curriculum. Birnbach's book gives an in-depth view of the college, examining everything from popular classes and professors to favorite local hang-outs. It allows you to take a small walk around campus before even leaving town. I think it is a great aid for anyone seriously looking to attend college.

I really, really wanted to like this book. I was expecting a humorous compilation of things which make these United States the greatest nation on the face of the earth. There is some of that. The book starts off with a paean to American-grown oranges (they are more orange than oranges grown elsewhere).

Then on page 4 we are treated to this great "thing": "You'll always remember your senior prom, especially if you weren't invited." Huh? This does not compute.

On page 61 we are informed that "Reading scores for kids can't possibly get lower." Well, yes they can. But how is that a great thing about America.

I also found several factual errors. For example, on page 20 the authors write "Even the District of Columbia has representatives to Congress." No, DC does not have representatives, DC has a nonvoting delegate in the House. Maybe this is splitting hairs, but the residents of DC thinks it matters.

Going through this book left a sour test in my mouth. There are so many great things about the USA, the authors could have done better.

I really, really wanted to like this book. I was expecting a humorous compilation of things which make these United States the greatest nation on the face of the earth. There is some of that. The book starts off with a paean to American-grown oranges (they are more orange than oranges grown elsewhere).

Then on page 4 we are treated to this great "thing": "You'll always remember your senior prom, especially if you weren't invited." Huh? This does not compute.

On page 61 we are informed that "Reading scores for kids can't possibly get lower." Well, yes they can. But how is that a great thing about America.

I also found several factual errors. For example, on page 20 the authors write "Even the District of Columbia has representatives to Congress." No, DC does not have representatives, DC has a nonvoting delegate in the House. Maybe this is splitting hairs, but the residents of DC thinks it matters.

Going through this book left a sour test in my mouth. There are so many great things about the USA, the authors could have done better.