My friend Courtney has a habit of lending me extraordinarily interesting books that I put on my coffee table and completely forget about. This one, however, I have been very into.

Author Wendy Burden is the funniest, least nostalgic raconteur when it comes to detailing her Vanderbilt family history. This book is full of nonsensical opulence, and she doesn't miss a beat.

Dead End Gene Pool: A Memoir

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