Tom Lynch

The immensely popular blog Stuff White People Like, created by LA-based writer Christian Lander, was spawned from a Internet-conversation he had with a friend about “The Wire.” Only a short time later Lander’s satiric site had thousands of hits, presumably attracting the liberal white people that Lander was so cleverly, and at times hysterically, dissecting. Some found racism in his blog posts, and if Lander wasn’t actually one of these white people he found so ridiculous, there might be an argument there (though most likely a thin one at best). As is, it’s all in good fun, and much more fun for Lander since he’s signed a mega-thousand-dollar deal that now sees his creation in book form. Lander’s theories have some obvious choices—coffee, Wes Anderson movies, Barack Obama—but it’s when he explores the drastic ends of the spectrum when he’s most funny, the wildly vague (“Awareness,” “Hating their parents,” “Diversity”) and the strikingly specific (“Assists” (think basketball), “80s Night,” “Standing still at concerts”). Lander discusses his findings tonight; expect some ironic t-shirts amongst the overwhelmingly white audience.

Christian Lander discusses “Stuff White People Like” July 25 at Book Cellar, 4736 North Lincoln, (773)293-2665, at 7pm. Free.

(2008-07-22)

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