Condé Nast is more than a name. It is a brand and influential trendsetter that made its presence known when publisher Condé Montrose Nast purchased the fashion magazine Vogue in 1909. Nast would add Vanity Fair and Glamour, along with a few other magazines, to his collection of publications. He was a believer in paying high prices to attract top talent to his companies.

Despite initial success, the stock market crash of 1929 whittled away at Nast’s fortune, and he passed away in 1942. Seventeen years later, the company was purchased by newspaper owner Samuel Newhouse Sr. Under the stewardship of his son, Samuel Jr. --- better known as Si --- the publishing empire of Condé Nast would leave a global imprint.

"Grynbaum...has assembled the right ingredients (compelling individuals, pop culture, wealth) and delivered a penetrating view of a company and its indelible impact on the zeitgeist. It’s a winner from start to finish."

Si Newhouse liked to shepherd those who gravitated towards the limelight. While his brother, Donald, would stick with the newspaper business, Si saw potential in magazines such as Vogue. When he was named the chairman of Condé Nast in 1975, the company was set for a pivot that would change its fortunes for decades to come. The creation of the successful Self magazine in 1979 was just the beginning of its resurgence. The decision to revive Vanity Fair in the 1980s appeared to be a fool’s errand until the hiring of the talented go-getter Tina Brown in 1984.

The ’80s ushered in the rise of the yuppie culture, where having money wasn’t nearly as important as showing it off. The magazines under the Condé Nast umbrella were quick to highlight the trappings of wealth, whether it be on the covers of Vogue, Vanity Fair or House & Garden. Through his magazine empire, Si was selling the idea of wealth to those who aspired to be wealthy. Brown’s leadership at Vanity Fair yielded success while embracing the more titillating aspects of culture, such as celebrity and scandal. The magazine didn’t lose a step when Graydon Carter assumed Brown’s editorial position in 1992. Vogue achieved new heights of prominence under the guidance of fashion maven Anna Wintour.

The glitterati would adorn the inside and outside of many of Condé Nast’s magazines. Vogue and Vanity Fair raised their profile with the sponsorship of award shows and afterparties. While sales of many of the magazines soared, so did expenses as Condé Nast employees soaked in the affluent lifestyle of their subjects. However, the good times came with an expiration date as the internet age dawned and hefty magazines became cost prohibitive.

EMPIRE OF THE ELITE is a well-researched and eloquent study of the rise and wane of a powerful mass media company. The history of Condé Nast is infused with epic personalities, but author Michael M. Grynbaum focuses primarily on Si Newhouse, Tina Brown, Anna Wintour and Graydon Carter as all four factored heavily in the company’s successes and occasional setbacks. Grynbaum, a correspondent for The New York Times, has assembled the right ingredients (compelling individuals, pop culture, wealth) and delivered a penetrating view of a company and its indelible impact on the zeitgeist. It’s a winner from start to finish.