steve_sanders's review against another edition
5.0
Maybe the most important work of pop-cultural criticism since Pauline Kael’s 5001 Nights At the Movies. With wit and precision, Nussbaum chronicles television’s evolution into the defining art form of the 21st century.
chandraleereads's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! I must admit that I am probably a bit biased... this book was basically made for me. Analyzing sexism, racism, trends, etc in television? Yes Please!!! Also, the essays were so well done and thought provoking that I want to go through the book again, this time physically reading rather than listening.
erinhorne27's review against another edition
3.0
The individual pieces were fun to read and very interesting, but I found it challenging to read in book form, all back to back. I'd definitely recommend this book to friends interested in film criticism and there are several pieces I'll save and re-read in the future.
literatehedgehog's review against another edition
3.0
A fascinating collection of TV and culture criticism.
I'm not a big TV watcher, so many of these essays were about shows that I haven't seen, let alone even heard of, so I did skip some. However, the short essays on shows like Jane the Virgin were thoughtful and engaging. The longer essay on the MeToo movement was tough to read, but a fascinating exploration of the quandary of enjoying art by problematic artists.
I'm not a big TV watcher, so many of these essays were about shows that I haven't seen, let alone even heard of, so I did skip some. However, the short essays on shows like Jane the Virgin were thoughtful and engaging. The longer essay on the MeToo movement was tough to read, but a fascinating exploration of the quandary of enjoying art by problematic artists.
varshiniramaraj's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second non-fiction book I've read and actually liked! It was really interesting to listen to the essays from the 90s when I didn't know some shows to the 2010s when she spoke about Hannibal and I was taken back to 7 years ago when I saw Hannibal for the first time.
I skipped a chapter or two, but for the most part, these essays are very well written!
I skipped a chapter or two, but for the most part, these essays are very well written!
pagesofpins's review against another edition
3.0
The author's writing is excellent, but she's also interested in shows that I don't generally watch.
findyourgoldenhour's review against another edition
5.0
First, let me just say that Emily Nussbaum is a genius. Not just because she's a brilliant and insightful writer (she is) but because she managed to make watching TV her job, and she was so good at it, she won a Pulitzer. Talk about #goals.
I like to read. I like to watch TV. I like to consume stories and pick apart narratives and characters and analyze what it all means. I also just like to be entertained! I like to see artistic geniuses create something that helps illuminate the human condition. That may sound high falutin when talking about television, but I stand by it, and so does Emily Nussbaum. This collection of her New Yorker columns is fantastic. I like to read, but I like to watch, too.
I like to read. I like to watch TV. I like to consume stories and pick apart narratives and characters and analyze what it all means. I also just like to be entertained! I like to see artistic geniuses create something that helps illuminate the human condition. That may sound high falutin when talking about television, but I stand by it, and so does Emily Nussbaum. This collection of her New Yorker columns is fantastic. I like to read, but I like to watch, too.