Looking for Class

by Bruce Feiler

An irresistible, entertaining peek into the privileged realm of Wordsworth and Wodehouse, Chelsea Clinton and Hugh Grant, "Looking for Class" offers a hilarious account of one man's year at Oxford and Cambridge -- the garden parties and formal balls, the high-minded debates and drinking Olympics. From rowing in an exclusive regatta to learning lessons in love from a Rhodes Scholar, Bruce Feiler's enlightening, eye-popping adventure will forever change your view of the British upper class, a world romanticized but rarely seen.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Memoir, Biography Memoir, British Literature

352 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

BRUCE FEILER is one of America’s most popular voices on contemporary life. He is the author of six consecutive New York Times bestsellers; the presenter of two prime-time series on PBS; and the inspiration for the drama COUNCIL OF DADS on NBC. Bruce’s two TED Talks have been viewed more than two million times. Employing a firsthand approach to his work, Bruce is known for living the experiences he writes about. His work combines timeless wisdom with timely knowledge turned into practical, positive messages that allow people to live with more meaning, passion, and joy. His new book, LIFE IS IN THE TRANSITIONS: Mastering Change at Any Age, describes his journey across America, collecting hundreds of life stories, exploring how we can navigate the growing number of life transitions with greater purpose and skill.

For more than a decade, Bruce has explored the intersection of families, relationships, health, and happiness. His book THE SECRETS OF HAPPY FAMILIES collects best practices from some of the country’s most creative minds. The book was featured on World News, GMA, and TODAY and excerpted in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and Parade. THE COUNCIL OF DADS describes how, faced with one of life’s greatest challenges, he asked six friends to support his young daughters. The book was profiled in PEOPLE, USA Today, and Time and was the subject of a CNN documentary hosted by Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Since 2001, Bruce has been one of the country’s preeminent thinkers about the role of spirituality in contemporary life. WALKING THE BIBLE describes his 10,000-mile journey retracing the Five Books of Moses through the desert. (“An instant classic,” Washington Post). The book spent a year and a half on the New York Times bestseller list and has been translated into fifteen languages.

ABRAHAM recounts his search for the shared ancestor of the monotheistic religions. (“Exquisitely written,” Boston Globe). WHERE GOD WAS BORN describes his trek visiting biblical sites throughout Israel, Iraq, and Iran. (“Bruce Feiler is a real-life Indiana Jones,” Atlanta Journal-Constitution). AMERICA’S PROPHET is the groundbreaking story of the influence of Moses on American history. THE FIRST LOVE STORY is a journey across four continents exploring how Adam and Eve shaped our deepest feelings about relationships. (“A miraculous thing—the literary equivalent of breathing new life into a figure of clay,” New York Times Book Review; “Feiler’s best work yet,” Publishers Weekly).

A native of Savannah, Georgia, Bruce lives in Brooklyn with wife, Linda Rottenberg, and their identical twin daughters.

Reviews

[Iain · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow did this book stink. If you understand that by "looking for class" the author means he participated in various drinking contests during his year at Cambridge while trying to get laid, then you won't be disappointed. If you think you'll be entertained by a smug American's take on Brits behaving badly (but by no means any worse than say, Yale grads), go ahead and pick it up. But if you're interested in an intelligent discussion of the British class system as it relates to academia, look elsewhere.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

may the young all the way
pined after Empire of the Mind.
dated read now still fair-weighted,
lit wit.

[Jarrod Sio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Feiler’s book before going up to Cambridge to earn an MPhil, and I have found this an even more delightful read the second time around. Like him, I went from the “real world” back into student life, which makes reading this book a personal endeavour.

Quite a few things have changed in Cambridge since the 1990s. For instance, party invitations (or “bops” in Cambridge parlance) are no longer extended through a single telephone at the porter’s lodge; smartphones and social media platforms are now the preferred methods. Ditto for student activism, which the age of wokeness has translated into support for UCU strikes, vegan-only May Balls and deplatforming of controversial speakers. Feiler’s experience also predated any of JK Rowling’s outputs, and is therefore free from any (overused) comparisons to Hogwarts.

Equally, many things have stayed the same, namely overzealous porters (I’m looking at you, King’s and Trinity). Since Feiler’s time, Girton, a traditionally all-female college has become co-ed, and New College is now known as Murray Edwards. We still wore gowns to formal halls and DJs to May Balls. Like Feiler, I learnt to tie a bow tie at Cambridge and rowed for the college, the latter of which gave me a better appreciation for the breathless descriptions of the exploits on the River Cam.

Overall, Feiler’s account of his year at Cambridge may appear uneventful for some readers, but it provided invaluable insight for me prior to attending the university. By and large, my own Cambridge experience mirrored his, complete with a motley crew of Brit friends with whom I spent many nights at the pubs, and internationals like myself, with whom I commiserated about certain UK quirks (food, over-awareness of regional accents, strikes etc).

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately a DNF for me; too crass for my taste. So much potential, at two places (Oxford and Cambridge) I adore, but I just didn’t need to read about certain exploits uni mates shared.

[Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

2020 bk 329. In the 1980's Bruce Feiler left his job in Japan and enrolled in Cambridge University's International Students Program. Clare College accepted his desire to work on a dissertation comparing the post WWII occupation of Japan and Germany. Very little is said of this work in the book - just the approval of the topic and then the approval of the dissertation near the end. In between, while I'm sure he must have done research and writing (and I would have liked more of what it was like to do the research in Cambridge's library), he focuses on being a student at Cambridge. During this time he rows for Clare College, seeks companions, falls in love, and does a lot of drinking. I repeat, a lot of drinking. In other words, this older student behaves like a 19 year old. It was interesting, and perhaps the best part of the entire book is where he compares British/Japanese/and American education systems. I did learn more about the university system in Great Britain - and I am glad for the opportunities I had in the U.S.

[William Guerrant · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author is a talented writer and the subject is interesting, but the failed (imho) attempt to make the book humorous ruined it. Most of what was intended to be funny, I found to be merely vulgar.

Having said that, there are some thoughtful and intelligent observations throughout the book, and those in Chapter XXI I found particularly interesting.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this author. I like his style and the two books of his that I’ve read are well researched. He can be almost too academic at times, but only for a line or two and then he draws you back in. It is this academic – but not too academic – style that feeds me the history, statistics and other factual information I crave to round out any story.

This window into one of the most prestigious schools on the planet was entertaining, if somewhat disheartening. Some of my admittedly naive illusions about Cambridge were blown away like leaves in a cold Autumn wind. Never having been there myself, my illusions were formed completely from what I read of other’s experiences and – ok I admit it – fiction. I read just about anything, truth or fantasy, that is set in those hallowed halls. I have envied the students, revered the professors, and fabricated an illusion of Cambridge that is dear to me. I have believed it to be a place where intelligent people gather for their favourite activities: study, research, writing and the kind of conversation of which I would like to be capable, but am not.

Giving up this cherished illusion was not something I enjoyed, but facts must be faced. And Mr. Feilier says the facts are that it is not always learning that preoccupies the students. Many don’t attend lectures, but instead waste whole terms in hosting and attending drinking and sex parties. Not so different from other universities I expect, but this is not other universities. This is Cambridge – revered, romantic Cambridge. So much for romance.

I did, however, enjoy reading about Feiler’s year there. His account is both honest and funny. Between the entertaining accounts of his personal encounters and anecdotes about other students we learn something of how the university and it’s colleges are run, the changes that are being made to try to adjust to modern times and what the daily life of a student looks like. Reading the book felt a bit like actually spending a few days at Cambridge; Feiler has the ability to make his experience very real to the reader.

So, I liked this book. And I’m not completely disenchanted. The setting amid old stone buildings and English gardens is still romantic. The students are intelligent. The conversation is at times quick and witty (the debate account is particularly enjoyable), and at others profound and enlightening. I would still go to Cambridge if I had the chance, as a visitor of course; I am neither intelligent nor wealthy enough to attend. It may not be the hallowed place of my illusions, but it still has more than enough charm for a good book.

[S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bruce Feiler did an unimpressive, even boring take on teaching JHS in Japan, but then spent a year with a traveling circus. In between, he finished a master's in international relations at Cambridge. In short, three memoirs of one or two years each. And three bestsellers, according to the cover, but minimal support here on GR.

This work, Looking for Class, delivers what is promised, an american's look at Cambridge where privilege and dating and punts on the Cam and a dress ball. The tiniest note of defensiveness enter Feiler's voice but otherwise his actual life and analysis of relations combine for a picture of privilege.

(NB author went on to do Christian works and possibly something on cancer)

[Lavinia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The cover is a little bit misleading, because except for a brief nod or two, the entire book is about and takes place at Cambridge; however, that did not lessen its appeal in any way. Mr. Feiler seems to me to maintain an appropriate balance of reverence and honest appraisal about this most august institution. He is funny and insightful and descriptive, and both the place and the characters came alive for me.

[JEM · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 Stars. At the end of the book, the porter asks the author a favour, "when you get back to America, don't tell people what it's really like here. Tell them what they want to hear." Let's just say that the author didn't really fulfill that favour. This isn't a romantic look at an established university where one goes to learn and philosophize and punt down the river. It's more the underbelly of student life, centering around drink, sex, partying and for want of a better word, pontificating.

Whilst I enjoyed some parts of the book (his observations of British life, the debate....) most of it centered around the partying life of the students, whilst likely true to life, didn't make for the kind of reading I enjoy. Also, this book predates Brexit and even the era of smartphones - it would be interesting to see if things have changed since then, probably not that much.

[Carianne Carleo-Evangelist · Rating 2 out of 5]

This took forever, but I refused to give up. I think the difference between this and Feiler's Middle East ones, which I loved, and Japan which I recall liking was this was too much him, and I didn't like early 20s Feiler. I didn't like how he treated women, but his colleagues as a whole, but I also think this book didn't age well. I knew it was old from the war references (Persian Gulf I), but I didn't realize quite how old. I found the rowing interesting having just watched the rowing in Oxford, but I wish there was more to it and less debate and parties. The rare book that I really wouldn't recommend but stubbornly pushed through

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

What did I think? I think that the students at Cambridge spend far too much time drinking, shagging, and pontificating on ridiculously inane subjects. They focus too much on social climbing and too little on academics. Sounds like a lot of institutions of higher learning in America. Sigh...

[William Olexy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to try to gain more insight into Cambridge and Oxford before traveling there. I found there was little content on Oxford and there was also more information on dating, partying, etc. than I needed. But overall it was an enjoyable read.

[Ricardo Ribeiro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much of personal drama, too little of interesting, informative writing, all marinated in a good portion of US American arrogance.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bruce Feiler is such a fine writer that it's difficult to find anything you don't like/enjoy about one of his books. "Looking For Class" is not my favorite of his books but I read it to the end. To me, his most striking book was "Walking The Bible." He is like a sponge about learning so much about that part of the world and then passing it along to his readers.

If you've ever wondered about Cambridge or Oxford and would like an "insider's" point of view, you'll enjoy this book.

Joyce Norman
Author/Publisher

[Summer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to push to get through this book. It was well written, but very boring. Not much happened, which would have been fine if some of the characters (who seemed interesting) had been given more attention. I found little/nothing to care about in the first three fourths of the book. By the time things picked up and began to draw my interest, the book was drawing to a close.

An interesting snapshot of life at Cambridge, but not one I'd recommend unless someone had a particular interest in Oxford or Cambridge.

[Leta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Feiler spent a year at Cambridge pursuing a Master's Degree and his memoir of that year feels like it was put together from rather sketchy notes. A friend who teaches law school says that his most consistent margin notes in Blue Books are "And?" and "So?" for incomplete or irrelevant arguments. Had I done that to this book nearly every anecdote would have had that because at the end of nearly every page I wondered "why did he tell us that?"

On the plus side, giving the book away will clear a little space in my overfull bookcases.

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

An irresistible, entertaining peek into the privileged realm of Wordsworth and Wodehouse, Chelsea Clinton and Hugh Grant, Looking for Class offers a hilarious account of one man’s year at Oxford and Cambridge -- the garden parties and formal balls, the high-minded debates and drinking Olympics. From rowing in an exclusive regatta to learning lessons in love from a Rhodes Scholar, Bruce Feiler’s enlightening, eye-popping adventure will forever change your view of the British upper class, a world romanticized but rarely seen.

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite being set mostly in Cambridge, this book did nothing to help stop my Oxford obsession! If anything, I am ready to pack up and go NOW! Feiler does a fine job giving you a taste of life at Cambridge - and by extension, Oxford. He doesn't gloss over the problems or overglorify the setting, but gives you a real picture of what being a student there in modern times means. I admit I may have skimmed a bit over his more preachy sections, but overall, I very much enjoyed this memoir.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable account by the American South-born Feiler of his year studying International Relations at Cambridge. A little self-absorbed at times, but overall an enjoyable and irreverent portrait of a legendary institution. Though I've never been to the UK, Feiler's narrative rings true with things I've heard from other Americans who've studied in England.

[Nancy O · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading this book because I loved the author's account of living in Japan called Learning to Bow. A more appreciative audience for this particular book would be Anglophiles who are nostalgic for college days; I'm neither. But it's well-written

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was typical Feiler style. I enjoyed most of it; I was bored by the rest. For an American's viewpoint of life as an exchange student at an elite UK school, it is edutaining.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great book from Feiler and having spent time at a British university I can relate to the food, teaching methods and singular focus of the students

[Noel · Rating 3 out of 5]

orlando->salt lake city...hehe.
first half is great - brings back all the memories of quirky british and cambridge stuff...2nd half not so much, but still really enjoyable

[Lawsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

suggested if interested in oxbridge or embarking on an oxbridge experience. excepting these, probably a three star instead. x

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun little book, get to know a bit about Oxford et al.