Lisa Birnbach

Writer and broadcaster Lisa Birnbach wrote The Official Preppy Handbook and the forthcoming TRUE PREP. Celebrated for her keen eye for culture, Birnbach is a media favorite and has lectured at numerous universities around the country. After graduating from Brown University, Birnbach worked at The Village Voice, where she co–wrote the ''Scenes'' column. Her first book, The Official Preppy Handbook, became a runaway bestseller (38 weeks at #1 on the NYT bestseller list!) and a tongue–in–cheek reference guide for a generation. She began writing for such high–profile publications as Glamour, TV Guide and Rolling Stone. She also went on a college lecture tour and put her vast knowledge of college life to use when she wrote Lisa Birnbach's College Book, offering the inside scoop on campuses. She has since been the writer and co-writer of 20 books and has written for Parade, New York, The New Yorker, The New York Times, and Travel & Leisure. Other points of interest: Lisa has been a Dewar's profile, been serenaded by John Denver (in a limousine), Meat Loaf (on a tour bus), Penn Jillette (in the Salt Lake City airport), and Wayne Newton (eat your hearts out). She was the Las Vegas bureau chief of Spy magazine, and she’s also been the "keynote speaker" at many a convention and annual meeting. She has appeared on many national television shows, including The Today Show, Oprah, Late Night with David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Charlie Rose, Good Morning America, and Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. From 1999- 2002 Lisa was a correspondent on The Early Show, with a weekly segment called, "Yikes! I'm a Grownup!" Until 2007, she hosted the syndicated radio program, ''The Lisa Birnbach Show,'' which won the 2007 Gracie awards for ''Outstanding Talk Show'' and ''Outstanding Comedy Show.'' And though she doesn't believe in "parenting," (see p. 10 of True Prep), Lisa is the mother of three children who live with her in New York.