If you’re just looking for a refresher on American social and political history, this book would be a fine way to get it, but it misses the mark on what it purports to be, which is a contextual history of why the ruling class in America rose and fell.

There just isn’t a lot of “why” here at all, as it’s mostly a biographical account of prominent American families. If you’re reasonably well informed on major American historical figures, you already know a lot about most of them and probably have some knowledge of the rest.

Because the book never really even tries to make any kind of sociological point about the role of these people or why they rose to prominence and later faded largely into irrelevance, it’s a very dry read devoid of any real observation.

It’s a shame because Gross is clearly a good researcher and is likely more than capable of writing the book that this one claimed to be. But the proverbial devil is in the details here, and there are far too many of them included here without being attached to any greater meaning to give the narrative much purpose beyond being a sort of DeBrett’s of American wealth.

Title: "The Flight of the Wasp"

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Review:

"The Flight of the Wasp" is an extraordinary work of nonfiction that seamlessly blends history, adventure, and suspense into a riveting narrative. Written with meticulous attention to detail and a keen eye for storytelling, this book is a tour de force that captivates from start to finish.

The Author takes readers on a thrilling journey through the remarkable true story of [brief summary of the book's subject matter]. With vivid prose and compelling anecdotes, they breathe life into the events and characters, transporting readers to a bygone era filled with danger, intrigue, and heroism.

What sets "The Flight of the Wasp" apart is its rich historical context and meticulous research. The author's dedication to accuracy and authenticity shines through on every page, offering readers a nuanced understanding of the time period and the people involved.

Moreover, the pacing of the book is impeccable, with each chapter building upon the last to create a sense of momentum and anticipation. From the heart-pounding action sequences to the intimate moments of reflection, every aspect of the narrative is expertly crafted to keep readers fully engaged.

But perhaps the most impressive aspect of "The Flight of the Wasp" is its ability to resonate on a deeper level, transcending its status as a mere historical account. Through the lens of this captivating story, readers are invited to contemplate themes of courage, sacrifice, and the indomitable human spirit.

In summary, "The Flight of the Wasp" is a masterpiece of nonfiction that deserves a place on the bookshelf of any history enthusiast or lover of great storytelling. It is a testament to the power of the written word to inform, inspire, and transport us to worlds beyond our imagination.

Michael Gross knows how to weave a social history- he has the research to make a rich non fiction book and also the connections to modern society that inform the reader of what these "elite" lives are truly like. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the writings of Dominick Dunne or Stephen Birmingham.

Thank you NetGalley, Atlantic Monthly Press and the author for a digital ARC of this book. This is a well researched and very detailed book about fifteen individuals and their families. It covers the settling of America through the present day and the role American WASPs have played in the United States and the rest of the world. Prominent names mentioned include Bradford, Morris, Whitney, Vanderbilt, Astor and Roosevelt. This is a mix of academic textbook combined with a bit of gossip. Readers who enjoy American history will find this very interesting. I enjoyed the chapters dealing with the Gilded Age the most but did learn some new facts about the Colonial period.

This was both enlightening and entertaining as well as educational. It's interesting to learn how our country's founding fathers and and other wealthy elite became the elite in our nation. From the Mayflower to today, this book traces the old money and how it ran our nation and continues to. Wasp culture is still around, it just plays behind the scenes more3, it seems. Armchair historians will enjoy this book. Michael Gross has managed to untangle all the family trees and researched each family very thoroughly. Fascinating books.

Having read Michael Gross' previous books, I had an idea of what to expect when I began Flight of the WASP: an exhaustively researched, unflinchingly told, and engaging story that leaves the reader much more informed than when they started. Unsure how he would wrap his arms around this expansive topic and present it coherently to the reader, I was delighted that Gross chose to focus on a handful of families to follow through out the short course of US history and pull the thread from then to now. Gross masterfully highlighted not only how these families were interwoven but also how many were present/influential at inflection points in our past. Fascinating and engaging from start to finish.

In the late twentieth century much was made of the power and influence of the WASP in America: the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant. Some were the first white settlers in the United States; many descended from them. A few had gained significant prestige, power, and wealth through various means. The author seeks to tell the story of the trajectory of the WASP through a series of characters from Plimouth Plantation to the present day.

The main characters are William Bradford, Gouvernour Morris, John Randolph of Roanoke, Lewis Cass, Nicholas Biddle, Henry Shelton Sanford, the Peabodies, the Rutherfurds, the Whitneys, Henry Fairfield Osborn, and Michael Butler. The author well weaves the tale of such people: how they succeeded, how they failed, what motivated them, and not only how they would be remembered, but how their descendants would maintain a type of aristocratic standing in American society and all that represented.

From this work one can perceive the tight-knit community of highly influential people in the northeast and mid-Atlantic states, a group which seems almost incestuous at times, and one can see how they maintain their influence and privilege through their connections, education, marriages, and job opportunities. Furthermore, one can perceive how many had some decently healthy conception of reality, but how many others seemed entirely subsumed within their bubble.

The concluding chapter informs us of the fate of the descendants of our main characters and offers what I felt to be the unearned conclusion of how there is a lot of nobility in the aspirations of the WASP and we in American society are worse off by not having them. It is not as if such a case could not be made; but a lot of what is set forth in the narrative would equally demonstrate how it was important and good to break the WASP aristocracy. The author has done excellent research and has told compelling stories, but the author did not put in the analytical work which would justify his conclusion.

Still a fascinating read.

I absolutely loved reading this book. I was completely drawn into the topic and could not stop reading it.

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
*******************************************************
Fifteen families.
Four hundred years.
The complex saga of the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant elite in America’s history.
For decades, writers from Cleveland Amory to Joseph Alsop to the editors of Politico have proclaimed the diminishment of the White Anglo-Saxon Protestants, who for generations were the dominant socio-cultural-political force in America. While the WASP elite has, in the last half-century, indeed drifted from American centrality to the periphery, its relevance and impact remain, as Michael Gross reveals in his compelling chronicle.
From Colonial America’s founding settlements through the Gilded Age to the present day, Gross traces the complex legacy of American WASPs—their profound accomplishments and egregious failures—through the lives of fifteen influential individuals and their very privileged sometimes intermarried families. As the Bradford, Randolph, Morris, Biddle, Sanford, Peabody and Whitney clans progress, prosper and periodically stumble, defining aspects in the four-century sweep of American history our wide, oft-contentious religious diversity; the deep scars of slavery, genocide, and intolerance; the creation and sometimes misuse of astonishing economic and political power; and an enduring belief in the future; an instinct to offset inequity with philanthropy; an equal capacity for irresponsible, sometimes wanton, behaviour.
“American society was supposed to be different,” writes Gross, “but for most of our history we have had a patriciate, an aristocracy, a hereditary oligarchic upper class, that initiated the American national experiment.” In previous acclaimed books such as 740 Park and Rogues’ Gallery, Gross has explored elite culture in a microcosm: expanding the canvas, Flight of the WASP chronicles it across four centuries and fifteen generations in an ambitious and consequential contribution to American history.

My ex used to sneer at me and call me an elitist WASP (I wasn't --- gasp --- Polish or Roman Catholic!) there is nothing wrong with being a WASP unless you are an absolute snob, use it to be an "influencer/content creator" or use it as a weapon of oppression These are names that even this Canadian has heard of and no one and I mean NO ONE but Michael Gross should have written this book as he is the master of skewering people.
Think Mayflower Madame and you know how deep the WASP culture in the USA runs (am I showing my age by that reference??? how about Waldorf or Astor(ia)? Boston Brahmins?) and how it still reverberates today. The book was FASCINATING, and I doubt that there is a book club I will not recommend it to, and I can also think of dozens of patrons who would enjoy this book as much as I did. It is a long book but not a hard book to read - I was surprised as how easily it flowed and how quickly even I (the ultimate speed reader) got through it.
HIGHLY recommended...what an impressive book! #shortbutsweetreviews

In “Flight of the WASP” Gross centres in the legacy of the original elite and how these families redefined what a WASP is.

As the book remains a thought-provoking exploration of a key part of American history and culture, Gross also raises important questions about the nature of power and privilege in American society.

Overall, "Flight of the WASP" offers a fascinating look at the rise, fall, and potential future of America's original ruling class. It is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in understanding the cultural and social forces that have shaped American society over the past century.

This is not tittle tattle about debutante balls and Society- this Deep History.

The author has done his home work and I have learned more about early American settlers than I ever did in school. I wasn’t expecting so much information about the time when the WASPs were the only game in town. We get to the Gilded Age 50% and the things get a bit more spicy. See it through.