American author and celebrated wit Fran Lebowitz has never been one to mince words, and in a recent wide-ranging interview, she delivered her characteristically sharp observations on everything from modern annoyances to literary disappointments.
The Lebowitz Litany: Modern Life Under Fire
When asked about five specific aspects of contemporary life, Lebowitz didn't hold back. Leaf blowers received particularly scathing criticism. "A horrible, horrible invention," she declared, recalling her shock upon first encountering them twenty years ago while renting a country house. "They are incredibly noisy. And second of all, 10 minutes after you use it, that big leaf blower in the sky blows them all back. It's a very stupid invention."
Her views on dinner parties revealed a clear self-identification. "I think the world is divided between guest and host. I'm a guest," she stated, adding that her experience allows her to avoid undesirable gatherings. "I'm a very good judge of dinner parties before I go to them."
On the subject of book clubs, Lebowitz expressed bewilderment, describing reading as "a more solitary activity" that she cherishes for precisely that reason. While she holds "no animus against the idea," it doesn't appeal to her personal approach to literature.
Love, Judgement and Jeans
The conversation turned to personal matters, including the question of what weird thing she has done for love. "Romance is not your central concern when you're 75, let me assure you," she responded drily. Dismissing the idea of taking up extreme sports for a partner, she was particularly derisive of hiking, calling it "the most stupid thing I could ever imagine."
Lebowitz, famous for her consistent denim wardrobe, lamented that "they no longer make the perfect pair of jeans." She revealed that if she'd known Levi's would discontinue her preferred style, she would have bought a hundred pairs. "Luckily, I have so many pairs of jeans that I'm still in the repairing stage," she noted, adding that her perception of denim pricing remains stuck in the past: "I still think jeans are $25. Anything more than that is ridiculous."
Her occasional acting roles as a judge in Law and Order and The Wolf of Wall Street make perfect sense to her. "I played a judge – because I am a judge," she explained. "All I do from morning to night is judge." She confessed she couldn't play any other role because she lacks acting talent, but judging comes naturally.
Nemeses, Australia and Overrated Books
When asked if she has a nemesis, Lebowitz responded without hesitation: "I'm sure I have more than one. I'm sure I have them by the dozen." However, she added that she doesn't pay much attention to her detractors and wouldn't name them even if she could.
She expressed admiration for Australia, particularly its food import laws and the Sydney Opera House. "The quality of the actual food is fantastic," she observed, wishing America would adopt similar rigorous standards, though she acknowledged it's "definitely out of the question" with the current administration.
On literature, Lebowitz confessed she struggles with contemporary novels, finding most of them disappointing. While she regularly re-reads The Great Gatsby hoping to find it overrated, she admitted "unfortunately it is" good. She dismisses arguments that her dislike of young authors' work is generational, insisting that quality should be age-independent.
Among her oldest possessions are her childhood sled and wagon, both now serving as bookstands in her apartment filled with 19th-century furniture. Reflecting on her varied employment history, including driving a taxi in 1970s New York, she concluded: "Fran, you just don't like to work. I would have been a fantastic heiress."
Fran Lebowitz will be touring Australia and New Zealand in May 2026 with 'An Evening with Fran Lebowitz'.
