Old Money

Name: Old Money
ISBN: 9787513945165

[法]拜伦·塔利 / 周婉璐民主与建设出版社Aug 2024

3.5

Word count: 114K words
Chapters: 23
ISBN: 9787513945165

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Summary

When people speak of old money, they often associate it with distant aristocrats or the opulent class of Succession. In reality, Europe and America are home to many old money families that have endured for centuries—low-key, understated, and unknown to the general public. Byron Tully, a member of an old money family from the Scottish region of America, witnessed newly rich groups abruptly lose their glamorous lifestyles in the 2008 financial crisis and was deeply moved. He decided to share the wisdom of old money families through a book, guiding people on how to safeguard their wealth and way of life, so that in an uncertain world both their wealth and lifestyle can be passed down rather than vanish in an instant. More than a decade ago, the first edition of Old Money sparked widespread attention and discussion in Europe and America, leading the "old money style" trend that remains popular today. Facing another wealth wipeout brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, Tully gained deeper insights, added more perspectives, and released a new edition. Now, as this work is published in China, Tully hopes the wisdom of old money can offer some lessons for China's rapidly rising wealthy class, and provide more angles of choice for a new generation striving not to be bound by wealth, so they may attain happiness and freedom beyond material riches.

Editor's review

Byron Tully's Old Money is not a simple biography of wealth or an investment guide, but a profound work of social observation and cultural analysis. Writing as both a Wall Street insider and a seasoned journalist, the author opens a window onto the upper reaches of wealth in America and beyond. Its value lies in moving past the technical question of how to get rich to explore the complex, enduring tensions between wealth and class, family and inheritance, privilege and responsibility.

Drawing on detailed cases and historical context, Tully shows how the Old Money group has shaped economic rules, social customs, and cultural taste. Readers will see that the core of true old-money culture is not conspicuous consumption but a deliberately low-profile philosophy of hidden wealth, an elaborate system of family governance, and a long-term commitment to education, art, and philanthropy. Against today's cult of new money's speed and scale, this offers a vital historical depth and a reflective perspective.

The book rewards two kinds of readers: researchers and observers interested in the sociology of wealth, class rigidity, and mobility; and entrepreneurs and family members facing the challenges of creating and passing on wealth. It offers no formula for getting rich quick, but a valuable framework for understanding the deeper logic of wealth, helping us consider how to build social and cultural capital to match the material capital we accumulate.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers with a strong interest in the sociological meaning of wealth and the evolution of class culture
Professionals in finance, high-end services, or roles that involve dealing with ultra-high-net-worth individuals
Entrepreneurs and management scholars concerned with family business governance and intergenerational wealth transfer
Readers who enjoy serious nonfiction and the analysis of macro social structures through individual cases

Not a good fit for

Readers of practical guides seeking specific investment techniques or shortcuts to wealth
Readers looking for light entertainment or dramatic personal stories

Reading tips

Begin with the preface and introduction to grasp the author's central questions and analytical framework.
Consult additional historical material on the specific families or institutions mentioned to deepen your understanding.
As you read, compare the new-money and old-money phenomena in your own social context for a cross-cultural perspective.

About the publisher

民主与建设出版社 China · Founded in 1994

Founded in 1994, Democracy and Construction Press organizes its publishing around economic management, the humanities and history, and united front culture, while also covering foreign literature and classic works. Among the 732 titles in the collection are translations of foreign classics such as The Brothers Karamazov and On War, fantasy literature such as The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Illustrated Collector's Edition, and modern literary masterpieces including Lao She's Four Generations Under One Roof and Camel Xiangzi · The Problem of Nothing, and Lu Xun's Call to Arms. Translators Geng Jizhi and Wang Jinhua, together with authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien and Carl von Clausewitz, form the resource base for its combination of scholarly translation and general reading. As public information is limited, this description focuses on the publishing profile reflected in the titles held in the collection.

版权信息
中文版序
导语
PART Ⅰ 核心价值
健康
教育
工作伦理
礼仪礼貌
经济独立
婚姻和家庭
隐私
PART Ⅱ 生活方式
穿着
语法措辞
家居
阅读
住宅
社交
车
旅行
雇员与服务
总结
参考

FAQ

How is this book different from an ordinary rich-person biography?

It is not a legendary narrative of one individual's rise but a systematic analysis of old money as a social class and cultural phenomenon, with greater scholarly rigor and social insight.

Is the book relevant only to American society?

Though most cases are American, its framework for analyzing the nature of wealth, family governance, and class behavior has broader relevance and can illuminate similar phenomena in China.

Can readers without a finance background understand it?

Yes. The book focuses on social and cultural analysis rather than financial expertise, so no specialist knowledge is required—only an interest in the social issues involved.

Comments

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About the author

[法]拜伦·塔利 Author · French

Byron Talley is a French author about whom limited public information is available, and many details of his life remain unknown. The library currently holds one work by him, Old Money, commonly classified under social and cultural studies. From this book alone, it appears that Talley is concerned with ideas of wealth, family inheritance, and class culture. His writing carries the flavor of social observation and cultural commentary, tending to approach the values and lifestyles associated with “old money” through details of everyday life. Because fuller background information about the author is lacking, it is difficult to assess the full scope of his writing or his intellectual context, and his career history or other publications cannot be confirmed. For Chinese readers, Talley’s name is currently linked mainly to Old Money, and his influence is reflected chiefly in the interest and discussion the subject has generated.

周婉璐 Author

Public information about Zhou Wanlu is currently limited, and her identity and background as an author remain to be further confirmed. To date, one work by her is held in the collection, Lao Qian (Old Money), commonly classified under social and cultural studies. Based on this available information, her writing touches on the field of social and cultural studies and addresses topics related to "old money." As no fuller author biography, educational history, or chronology of works is available, it is difficult to fully assess her writing style and overall influence. Regarding Lao Qian, readers may treat it as a point of entry for observing related social and cultural phenomena, but the author's specific approach, sources, and viewpoints in the book still need to be judged in light of the original text. It is hoped that, as more material becomes available, a fuller picture of Zhou Wanlu's writing will emerge.