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60 reviews for:
The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement
Jean M. Twenge, W. Keith Campbell
3.35 AVERAGE
60 reviews for:
The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement
Jean M. Twenge, W. Keith Campbell
3.35 AVERAGE
A pretty good over view if you are interested in the topic of narcissism but kinda written for a baby. (I’m sure the authors were somewhat going for that). They do miss a major point of the culture of narcissism, which is capitalism in tandem with globalization. The Culture Of Narcissism by Christopher Lash is a better read in my opinion but this is a good start.
This book is a must read for anyone that has ever wondered what has happened to our culture? I was born near the end of the 80s and beginning of the 90s. I may not remember much of the beginning, but I remember enough to see the change in our system. At first, I thought it was the obsession with sex. Then I thought people were simply becoming more rude and ambitious at any cost. A person only has to look at the television programs of the current time to see the trend, for television tends to mirror what the current generation values. I could never really put my finger on a general term that encompassed all these aspects together and more – until I read this book. Once I picked it up off the shelf, I knew I would thoroughly enjoy the book. Not only is it an analysis of our culture, but the scientific backgrounds of these authors and the proof they offer only further supports the actuality of this narcissism phenomenon. Please read this book. If it does nothing to actually change our culture, it could at least alter your own outlook of our society. And any change starts with the individuals.
challenging
informative
medium-paced
It’s written more than a decade ago so the information and the context seemed a bit outdated. I had conflicted feelings about some of the information provided. I would still recommend the book because most of the things made sense but I’m not sure if it will apply to most of the people I personally know.
Overall, it was okay. A little ranty, but OKAY.
The last few sentences of the book really left a bad taste in my mouth, though...something about "The Chinese" eating our lunches economically, while indulgent Americans are lagging behind. This whole "me vs them" spiel is getting old, and it completely ruins the entire point that this book was trying to make.
While they're continuously trying to espouse humility and collectivism, the authors have managed to engage in another form of narcissism, with all this "rebirth-of-American-values, don't-let-the-Chinese-people-take-over" crap.
Uggghhh.
The last few sentences of the book really left a bad taste in my mouth, though...something about "The Chinese" eating our lunches economically, while indulgent Americans are lagging behind. This whole "me vs them" spiel is getting old, and it completely ruins the entire point that this book was trying to make.
While they're continuously trying to espouse humility and collectivism, the authors have managed to engage in another form of narcissism, with all this "rebirth-of-American-values, don't-let-the-Chinese-people-take-over" crap.
Uggghhh.
informative
reflective
slow-paced
This is a wonderful book that does force you to reflect about your life and what you grew up thinking but at times can be a bit rambling and repetitive making it a slow read overall.
A lot of this isn't news--kids are entitled, everyone thinks they're a winner and get mad/can't handle it when they lose. Also, it was pretty dated--the discussion about being self-absorbed is discussed through the lens of MySpace, which is pretty outdated, but it you can ignore the MySpace references (and frame them through Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, etc.) it's relevant.
An interesting read about how vain, self-absorbed, and materialistic American culture has become in the twenty-first century. All of the trends described in this book have continued unabated, with the exception that MySpace is no longer the main social media hub.
This is a very important book, and it makes a few really valid points. Ms. Twenge and Mr. Campbell make a great job of connecting the dots on many cultural trends that would otherwise seem unrelated. This is particularly interesting for a non-American reader, since when I see that sort of stuff on TV I never know if what I'm noticing is real, hyperbolic or just irony. So it was really helpful having someone lay out the big picture for me.
Still, I think this book would be much more compelling if it weren't so repetitive. Now I realize that, when you have a thesis to prove, the border between argumentation and reiteration is a difficult one to walk. I get it - I'm a paranoid nonfiction reader, and I'm hyperaware of that sort of stuff. It's what happens when you're preaching to the choir. But trust me - this one really drags at points.
Anyway, if you're willing to resort to diagonal reading after the first half of every chapter, you should totally give this a go. As for me, I've made two chilling realizations:
- I like reading about American bad lifestyles and social tendencies, because deep down I know we are next. That way I'll be able to say I saw it coming.
- I've wondered for years, how can these people afford the single-family houses they all live in?* The answer is, they can't.
*I mean, look at the Simpsons. Come on, really??
Still, I think this book would be much more compelling if it weren't so repetitive. Now I realize that, when you have a thesis to prove, the border between argumentation and reiteration is a difficult one to walk. I get it - I'm a paranoid nonfiction reader, and I'm hyperaware of that sort of stuff. It's what happens when you're preaching to the choir. But trust me - this one really drags at points.
Anyway, if you're willing to resort to diagonal reading after the first half of every chapter, you should totally give this a go. As for me, I've made two chilling realizations:
- I like reading about American bad lifestyles and social tendencies, because deep down I know we are next. That way I'll be able to say I saw it coming.
- I've wondered for years, how can these people afford the single-family houses they all live in?* The answer is, they can't.
*I mean, look at the Simpsons. Come on, really??
A very interesting, and I believe truthful and well researched book. This makes it all the more frightening. Reading this really opened my eyes, not only to the narcissistic culture that America has become, but also to how the culture has effected my own views. Although, I was able to smile smugly at the many children with strangely spelled names that come to the library where I work and shake my head at the children who take for granted all the free stuff given out by the library, I also was chagrined and humbled by some of the other points which I could clearly recognize in myself. While the children were blatant in their entitlement ("Isn't there another treat?" They ask. When told that at the free new release blockbuster movie and movie sized bag of popcorn was all that they were getting.) I was subtle in mine, feeling entitled to cookies from the library budget because I felt under-appreciated, wanting to choose my own schedule and take time off even though I haven't even gotten to my first job evaluation. I want recognition as a senior employee although this is the first job I've ever had...
Even writing this review is part of my narcissistic core. Thinking that my thoughts on this book are worthy of being displayed to all, my opinion matters so much that I must broadcast it over the Internet. But, I think that I can't change that, and I doubt if things such as Facebook, Myspace and blogs will ever go away. I console myself with one thought, that I don't expect anyone other than a few family members to read this and even if someone else does, I hope that it at least helps them inform their own decision whether or not this book sounds interesting to them.
Even with the disappointment of realizing that I have narcissistic traits and my cultural views have definitely been informed by a narcissistic culture I think that overall, even with the distressing statistics about aggression and selfishness I think this book has a good message.
Recognize the good instead of the disappointing in life. Be thankful everyday for what you have, not what you're missing. Connect with people instead of claiming difference from them. How are we similar instead of how we are different. I think that will definitely help me get along better with my co-workers. Even though we have very different views in some areas, we all sought work in a library, we are all bookworms, readers and lovers of books. What could be a better connection than that?
Even writing this review is part of my narcissistic core. Thinking that my thoughts on this book are worthy of being displayed to all, my opinion matters so much that I must broadcast it over the Internet. But, I think that I can't change that, and I doubt if things such as Facebook, Myspace and blogs will ever go away. I console myself with one thought, that I don't expect anyone other than a few family members to read this and even if someone else does, I hope that it at least helps them inform their own decision whether or not this book sounds interesting to them.
Even with the disappointment of realizing that I have narcissistic traits and my cultural views have definitely been informed by a narcissistic culture I think that overall, even with the distressing statistics about aggression and selfishness I think this book has a good message.
Recognize the good instead of the disappointing in life. Be thankful everyday for what you have, not what you're missing. Connect with people instead of claiming difference from them. How are we similar instead of how we are different. I think that will definitely help me get along better with my co-workers. Even though we have very different views in some areas, we all sought work in a library, we are all bookworms, readers and lovers of books. What could be a better connection than that?
This is a very important book, and it makes a few really valid points. Ms. Twenge and Mr. Campbell make a great job of connecting the dots on many cultural trends that would otherwise seem unrelated. This is particularly interesting for a non-American reader, since when I see that sort of stuff on TV I never know if what I'm noticing is real, hyperbolic or just irony. So it was really helpful having someone lay out the big picture for me.
Still, I think this book would be much more compelling if it weren't so repetitive. Now I realize that, when you have a thesis to prove, the border between argumentation and reiteration is a difficult one to walk. I get it - I'm a paranoid nonfiction reader, and I'm hyperaware of that sort of stuff. It's what happens when you're preaching to the choir. But trust me - this one really drags at points.
Anyway, if you're willing to resort to diagonal reading after the first half of every chapter, you should totally give this a go. As for me, I've made two chilling realizations:
- I like reading about American bad lifestyles and social tendencies, because deep down I know we are next. That way I'll be able to say I saw it coming.
- I've wondered for years, how can these people afford the single-family houses they all live in?* The answer is, they can't.
*I mean, look at the Simpsons. Come on, really??
Still, I think this book would be much more compelling if it weren't so repetitive. Now I realize that, when you have a thesis to prove, the border between argumentation and reiteration is a difficult one to walk. I get it - I'm a paranoid nonfiction reader, and I'm hyperaware of that sort of stuff. It's what happens when you're preaching to the choir. But trust me - this one really drags at points.
Anyway, if you're willing to resort to diagonal reading after the first half of every chapter, you should totally give this a go. As for me, I've made two chilling realizations:
- I like reading about American bad lifestyles and social tendencies, because deep down I know we are next. That way I'll be able to say I saw it coming.
- I've wondered for years, how can these people afford the single-family houses they all live in?* The answer is, they can't.
*I mean, look at the Simpsons. Come on, really??