A poppin’ list of pop culture reads
Editor’s note: We wanted to shake up our Read section. So we turned to the coolest folks we know to suggest themes for reading lists—i.e, you. As expected, we received quirky, smart, and delightfully surprising suggestions. This month, we have a list of great reads on pop culture—curated by Anannya, our in-house bibliophile—as requested by Sourabh, Anika and Lily.
Written by: Anannya Parekh, News Editor and in-house bibliophile.
The Age of Magical Overthinking by Amanda Montell: The book explores cognitive biases in the modern information age and social media—and how they fuel human irrationality. Montell writes on the “Halo effect” that cultivates worship—for example, Taylor Swift being called ‘Mother’—or immense hatred of larger-than-life celebrities. How social media makes people rate the story of their lives higher than the lived experience of it, or the “IKEA effect” when people overvalue their Pinterest DIYs. With razor-sharp commentary and funny anecdotes, this book has lovely insights into the collective human experience, post-COVID.
Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman: In this brilliant collection of essays, pop culture buff Klosterman explores almost every aspect of postmodern America—with his signature humour—from reality TV, internet porn to the Sims. The deep dive into art, entertainment, infotainment, sports, politics is a must-read for 70s or 80s kids.
The Revolution Was Televised by Alan Sepinwall: The author breaks down how 12 TV shows disrupted the TV business–and created an appetite for edgy dramatic shows that pushed boundaries. The illustrious list includes: ‘The Sopranos’, ‘Oz’, ‘The Wire’, ‘Lost’, ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, ‘Battlestar Galactica’, ‘Mad Men’, and ‘Breaking Bad’. This engaging and fast-paced read is a sure-shot hit for fans of these shows.
Love Is a Mix Tape by Rob Sheffield: This veteran rock and pop culture critic—who writes for Rolling Stone magazine—tells the deeply personal story of how rock music led him to the love of his life—Renée. They wed after graduate school, both became music journalists, and were married only five years when Renée died. Sheffield weaves this memoir through a series of mix tapes the couple obsessively compiled in the 90s—to court each other, for road trips, doing the dishes, sleeping—and eventually, to grieve his wife.
I'll Have What She's Having by Erin Carlson: The renowned entertainment journalist offers a backstage look a revered director– Nora Ephron and her trilogy of romcoms: ‘When Harry Met Sally’, ‘You've Got Mail’, and ‘Sleepless in Seattle’—while looking at her own romantic life and happy ending—after one broken engagement and two failed marriages.
Fashion Killa by Sowmya Krishnamurthy: Music journalist Krishnamurthy tells the intersecting stories of the hip-hop artists, fashion designers, and unsung heroes who fought the power and reinvented ideas of “haute couture” over the last fifty years. This “cinematic narrative of glamour, grit, luxury, and luck” features interviews with A-list names Lil’ Kim, Cardi B, Anna Wintour and Donatella Versace. She also looks at the impact of music and streetwear on gatekeepers of luxury brands.
The 2000s Made Me Gay by Grace Perry: Perry’s hilarious collection of essays puts a magnifying glass on the experience of a queer woman in the 2000s—when most of entertainment was strictly straight. She looks for reflections of herself in Lindsay Lohan’s fall from grace, ‘Gossip Girl’, Katy Perry’s ‘I Kissed A Girl’, country-era Taylor Swift, and Seth Cohen jumping on a coffee cart.
