Class by Paul Fussell (1992, Paperback, Reissue)

This book is classified, I recall, under sociology. It purports to be a serious effort to look at class systems in the U.S. (it was written in the early 80s, I think, so it is a bit dated). There was a lot of fun, astute and interesting information in this book. But mainly it was an arrogant look at how people live with shocking (but funny) sweeping statements, dismissing most parts of the country as vile (geographically) and lower class. I kept wondering who this author is and how he gets to judge everyone else. I did take true offense a couple of times, but mostly I was just amused and I even read parts to family members who laughed hysterically, especially when they realized that their hometown and everything else were so base.