Intelligence for Dummies: Essays and Other Collected Writings

by Glenn O'Brien

A portrait of a keen social observer at the center of the last 50 years of cultural life, captured through a vivid selection of O’Brien’s own writings on music to fashion to downtown art and, just as importantly and unexpectedly, the political temperature of America.

Glenn O’Brien collaborated with visual artists, writers, fashion houses, and musicians throughout his almost 50-year career. Intelligence for Dummies gathers Glenn O’Brien’s essays, aphorisms and tweets, to create a portrait of the artist as cultural bellwether, complimented by artwork and photographs from his collaborators. A full color, hardcover edition, Intelligence for Dummies is a deeply personal aperçu into Patti Smith and Jean Michel Basquiat’s New York, and the culture of money that ensued. It also reveals O’Brien’s incisive and prescient understanding of America’s political culture, and of our current president.

Genres: Essays, Nonfiction, Art

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published October 22, 2019

About the author

Glenn O'Brien was an American writer who focused largely on the subjects of art, music and fashion. He was featured for many years as "The Style Guy" in GQ magazine, and published a book with that title.

Reviews

[Tosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glenn O'Brien is one of my favorite wits, coming from Manhattan. He does have that Robert Benchley quality in his writing, that whatever he writes about it is always of great interest. The truth is he's a great prose stylist and hysterical. Here in this collection, there are separate sections for music, art, fashion, politics, and so forth. All of them are serious, but O'Brien has a light touch that only a master can do on the written page. I miss his presence.

[Peter Landau · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a theory that I stole from Socrates, what we’re exposed to as children will resonate with us for the rest of our lives. I was born in NYC in the 1960s and grew up in the 1970s and ‘80s — oh, and I was an arty pretentious boy — so, this book of essays and profiles falls in my wheelhouse. O’Brien is more than the Zelig of Downtown, he’s a humorist first and foremost, making him an enjoyable guide through the cool and fringe elements of the creative ferment that was the city at this time.

[John Spiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book I didn't know I needed until I saw it at Brazos Books. "Intelligence For Dummies" is the first book by ZE Books, which is run by one of the founders of ZE Records, Michel Zilkha.

Glenn O'Brien lived at least four lifetimes in 70 years: Interview Magazine, TV Party, Downtown '81 book editor, abd Style Guy for GQ are just some of his career turns. "Intelligence For Dummies" collects some of his writings on various subjects (art, music, politics, fashion) . The pieces on Sarah Palin, Andy Warhol, leather bars, and "hardcore" are exquisite, and I anticipate that I will turn to them again in the future. Some others, though, are forgettable and keep me from giving this book 5 stars.

[Paul Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

An uneven but entertaining collection of essays from one of the seminal figures of the downtown NYC "scene" in the late 60's to early 80's. At his best, he had me both smiling/nodding and a bit teary remembering my own adventures adjacent to those times and places. Not for everyone, but if you got all excited when the new issue of Interview hit the newsstands, then it's worth a read

[Avedon Arcadio · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite personalities who lived through one of the most fascinating zeitgeists of our time in NYC. Truly captured the non vivant era of the early 80s as one of those right place right time bodies in the mix of it all. Definitely a collection I will return to as the world continues to recycle and renew itself.

[Paige McLoughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

a glitterati collection of essays. Lots of name-dropping old fashion takes that are dated. I suppose O'Brien enjoyed the pop culture ride even if it seems to go nowhere.
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[Joe Palermo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always loved Glenn O’Brien’s writing style and wit, ever since his “The Style Guide” column in GQ magazine. He is no longer with us, but it was fun reading this collection of his past articles.

[Curt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing time capsule of short pieces from the 80s to the teens.

[Noel Cisneros]

O'Brien reflexiona sobre su relación con Andy Warhool, von la revista Interview, sobre el arte,la moda y la política, con inteligencia y mordacidad estos ensayos se disfrutan mucho.

[Ian Bain · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for anyone who considers themselves “punk rock”.