Virginia Postrel

Virginia Postrel is a well-known American author, journalist, and commentator. Postrel was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and attended Duke University before moving to New York City, where she earned a Master's in Journalism from Columbia University. She then gained employment at Forbes as a staff writer and subsequently became a contributing editor to the magazine. After leaving Forbes in 2001, Postrel served as a contributing editor to The Atlantic, Fast Company, Reason, and Real Clear Politics. She has written five books, including The Substance of Style and The Future and Its Enemies, and has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post, among other publications.

Postrel's most influential book, The Substance of Style: How the Rise of Aesthetic Value is Remaking Commerce, Culture, and Consciousness, was released in 2003 and has since become a cornerstone of the modern aesthetic debate. Postrel examines how citizens are beginning to prioritize style and aesthetics as they shop, and how the emergence of a new aesthetic economy has changed the landscape of business and the landscape of culture. She argues that aesthetics play an equal or greater role in economic and cultural decisions than traditional economic indicators like wages, profits and efficiency. The Substance of Style is heavily cited in discussions of aesthetic consumption and is often considered a standard text for students of aesthetics.

Postrel's second book, The Future and Its Enemies: The Growing Conflict over Creativity, Enterprise, and Progress, examines the political beliefs surrounding progress and creativity. Postrel defines progress as “the gradual accumulation of knowledge and adaptation to the changing world,” and argues that the two sides of the debate—those who think progress is necessary and those who see it as destructive—do not understand each other or the importance of progress in business and economic decisions. Postrel discusses how both sides must learn to come to terms with the value of progress if society is to benefit from it. She also examines the implications of progress for the future, including the consequences for social stability, economic growth, and the environment.

Another of Postrel's works is The Power of Glamour: Longing and the Art of Visual Persuasion. In this book, Postrel examines the power of glamour in our lives, from television and film to fashion, art, and politics. She explores the elusive nature of glamour and how it both sustains and limits our dreams, evokes emotional connections and triggers uncontrolled desire, and creates a world of magic and possibility. In this book, Postrel reveals the complicated relationship between glamour and influence, power, and creativity.

Postrel has also written and edited several collections of writings on aesthetics, including the co-edited Aesthetics and the Business of Culture, which examines the relationship between aesthetics and culture. She has also contributed to the work of other authors such as Ayn Rand, Julian Schnabel, and Mary McCarthy, among others.

For her diverse works and contributions, Postrel has been honoured with multiple awards, including a Guggenheim fellowship and the Walter Bagehot “Best in Business” award. Virginia Postrel's work has been highly influential in discussions of aesthetics and the future, and her groundbreaking work continues to provide invaluable insights into our evolving culture.