Why We Read What We Read

Title:  Why We Read What We Read: Exploring Contemporary Bestsellers and What They Say About Our Books and Ourselves

Authors:  John Heath and Lisa Adams

Rating:  4/5

[Note:  This review is written about an advanced reading copy of this book.]

I've been receiving some interesting books for review here lately, thanks in great part to Leigh Albright of Sourcebooks, Inc.  One of these is a non-fiction response to a topic of particular interest to me:  Why We Read What We Read: Exploring Contemporary Bestsellers and What They Say About Our Books and Ourselves by John Heath and Lisa Adams.

Heath and Adams look at American bestseller lists from the recent past in an attempt to determine our reading habits and what those habits then say about us and the culture in which we live.  They focus on aspects such as:  diet, wealth, and inspiration,  politics, good vs. evil, spirituality and religion, and love and relationships.  The authors reviewed several of these books.  The result was a surprising correlation among the topics.

For example, in the chapter that discusses good vs. evil, the authors discuss the type of villain found most often in adventure fiction.  There is no question who is evil, and the methods and motives of the villain are clearly defined and the villain him/herself so cold, calculating and unreachable, that the reader has no choice but to despise  him/her.  Any empathy the reader might have for the villain is removed.  This, Heath and Adams claims, is the same perspective of the best selling political books of the conservative right - they make the "villain" (substitute "terrorist", "liberal" or "Democrat" for villain) to be so evil, so perverse, so unreachable that there is no doubt who is wearing the black hat.   Heaven forbid the reader has any empathy.

Other correlations include the stereotypes found in best selling non-fiction relationship books and romance fiction, especially  the "white knight" myth.  According to this myth, women want someone to protect and take care of them, and most men are more than happy to oblige (as long as it is by their rules).

Why We Read What We Read is entertaining as well as enlightening.  Heath and Adams inject a fair amount of humor into their writing.  No one escapes under their radar.  Whether it be Oprah, the DaVinci Code phenomenon (which has the ultimate villain),  Harry Potter, diet books, animal books, or bodice-ripping romances, they are all discussed here.  Most importantly, I have a better understanding now why I don't consult American bestseller lists when looking for potential reads.

Comments

[jenclair]

I love examining reading habits and this book sounds like a fascinating look at our culture and ourselves. Thanks!

[Literary Feline]

This does sound interesting. Thank you for bringing it to my attention!

[Ex Libris]

jenclair: It is fascinating, especially the way they showed the similarities of the seemingly unrelated book categories. It certainly makes one stop and think!

Literary Feline: You're welcome! Hope you get a chance to read it.

[Danielle]

This sounds like an interesting read. I'd love to know how our reading tastes have changed over the years--going further back in history. I'm curious if we really are dumbing down like the critics say.

[Courtney]

This is the second review I've read for this book, and it sounds really interesting. I'm definitely going to have to pick this one up!!