In Empire of the Elite: Inside Condé Nast, the Media Dynasty That Reshaped America, longtime New York Times media correspondent Michael M. Grynbaum crafts a detailed account of personal ambition, corporate machinations, family histories, and shifting cultural landscapes, creating a compelling narrative about the history of the Condé Nast media empire and, more broadly, American society.
Grynbaum invites readers into the gilded lifestyles and vibrant boardrooms of Condé Nast, depicting the fluctuating business dealings and sometimes over-the-top personalities involved. He leaves no expense account unexamined as he explores the company's evolution from its foundational years under founder Condé Montrose Nast to its vast expansion of scope and influence during the leadership of Samuel Irving "Si" Newhouse Jr., as well as the challenges it faced in acclimating to the digital age.
Even readers unfamiliar with notables such as Tina Brown, Graydon Carter, or Anna Wintour will be captivated by the rise of iconic magazine titles including Vogue, Vanity Fair, and the New Yorker, and the brilliant, glamorous individuals who helmed them.
Empire of the Elite is filled with captivating anecdotes and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the lives of celebrities who graced the covers of Condé Nast publications and the editors who became celebrities themselves, but it's not overly sensationalistic. Grynbaum deepens readers' understanding of the company, rather than simplistically skewering its inhabitants, though he also ensures that inflated egos do not go unpunctured. The level of detail presented is a testament to his meticulous research, and he executes with adroit journalistic skill a comprehensive analysis of how Condé Nast became a cultural force. --Elizabeth DeNoma, executive editor, DeNoma Literary Services, Seattle, WA