Lifestyles of the rich and anonymous

[the age 04.06.2002] (book review)

Using the BRW Rich 200 list as a source, Dr Michael Gilding, associate professor of sociology at Swinburne, has written a book about the lifestyles of Australia's wealthiest people. The stereotypical image of plush offices, and lavish parties seem, for the most part, to be atypical.

"He describes for example, walking up a set of stark concrete stairs to a squat brick building in the suburbs - the headquarters of a businessman worth more than $100 million. He was invited in by a collarless man wearing jeans who was soon revealing a few recipes for his success; that he doesn't use a computer, doesn't read and that his best asset "by far" is not being educated. "But the more they talked, the more I realised that their stories, circumstances and their dilemmas were extraordinary," he says."

Looks like it might be an interesting read.