I must confess that I belonged to the classic core of the Yuppie generation: well educated, ambitious, and coming of age during an era of economic expansion, neoliberal optimism, and the rapid rise of consumerism and lifestyle culture. At the height of the Yuppie phenomenon, I was between twenty-four and twenty-nine years old — precisely in the centre of the demographic.
Unlike their American counterparts, however, I was still a law student in Germany at the time and therefore had no access whatsoever to the traditional symbols of Yuppie success: designer suits, luxury watches, sports cars, or exclusive squash clubs. Consequently, the book does not accurately reflect my own lived reality. By the time I entered professional life in 1989, the Yuppie era had already begun to fade. I belonged rather to the post-Yuppie generation: those who consciously witnessed the lifestyle, yet never fully embodied it.
In any event, the term "Yuppie" was never embraced in Germany with the same confidence and enthusiasm as in the United States. It always carried a faintly ironic, if not outright critical, undertone. Perhaps this was simply Germany's way of signalling that conspicuous ambition and material success should be enjoyed discreetly and preferably accompanied by a modest expression of guilt.
Amazon published the above as my customer review. And then they deleted it without explanation. Apparently, even a book review about the 1980s must first pass contemporary ideological quality control.
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Dr. Ulrich Eder worked as an international lawyer and tax advisor in Düsseldorf, Bangkok and Panama City. Having retired from professional life, he now enjoys exploring beautiful beaches, fascinating cities, and writing about his experiences, insights and reflections. He is no longer available for legal, tax or business advice. In fact, he may not even respond to emails or other requests. There’s only being in, and then being out.
