Primates of Park Avenue

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In a brilliantly original and witty memoir, the author decodes the social behaviors of Upper East Side mothers, drawing on her background in anthropology and primatology. After marrying into this elite neighborhood, she struggles to fit in, but by viewing her surroundings through an anthropological lens, she begins to understand the dynamics at play. The snobbiness of other mothers at school drop-off becomes clear when likened to olive baboons, and her obsession with a Hermes Birkin handbag reveals its role in establishing dominance. She explores tribal migration patterns, display rituals, and the complexities of female relationships, leading to smart and unexpected conclusions. Readers will recognize the cultural codes of powerful social hierarchies and the universal desires of mothers for their children's safety, happiness, and success, regardless of wealth. Even amidst luxury, the anxieties and losses of motherhood remain. As her life takes a turn, she discovers the profound bonds of female friendship. This memoir offers an insightful glimpse into the exotic yet familiar culture of privileged Manhattan motherhood, lifting the veil on a world that, while elite, shares common human experiences.