The Cult of Celebrity: What Our Fascination with the Stars Reveals About Us (Paperback)

~ Cooper Lawrence (Author)
Key Phrases: celebrity worship, emerging adults, celebrity images, American Idol, Bought It Because Jessica Simpson Said, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Do you find yourself constantly worrying about Jen's lovelife? Britney's mental health and Suri's thumbsucking? You've become a full fledged member of the cult of celebrity. Luckily, there's a new antidote--Cooper Lawrence--who will talk you through the reasons why star obsession is A-List OK.
     If you've ever wondered if your celebrity obsession is dangerous to your health, then dig into Cooper Lawrence's new investigation into the cult of celebrity. From digging into the historical roots of star worship to the inner workings of the Hollywood machine, you'll finally understand why celebrities really do matter."

—Bonnie Fuller, cofounder of Bonnie Fuller Media, former vice-president and chief editorial director of American Media

 

“Cooper Lawrence’s exploration of celebrity culture is one of the most ardent and straightforward we have.”

—Rita Cosby, Emmy–Award winning journalist, former MSNBC correspondent

  

“Cooper has the rare ability to take what’s going on in the celebrity world and break it down in real-life terms. . . . In this book, she does it with her genuine, no-pretense style.”

—Peter Grossman, US Weekly Magazine

 

 “A guiding light in a storm, Cooper gave me back the power to grow again in this business. Her book The Cult of Celebrity has that same powerful impact.”—Christopher Atkins, Golden Globe–nominated actor; costar, The Blue Lagoon

 

“Being with Cooper is like being with one of your closest friends—one who happens to be a treasure trove of humor, wit, ease, incredible sensibility, and a vivacious personality, all wrapped up with intellect and experience.”

—Eric Nies, model/actor, MTV’s Real World and former host of MTV’s The Grind

 

“In a world of lies, deception, ego and the all-important ‘image’, Cooper absolutely helped me keep a clear perception of myself, my goals, and my beliefs. She believed in me and was a strong voice of hope and reason in a time of dire need.”

—Jeremy Jackson, actor, Baywatch

 

"It’s the celebrity shock value age and Cooper Lawrence has keen compassionate insight into the good, the bad, and the ugly." —Adrian Zmed, actor (T. J. Hooker; Grease 2)

 

“Cooper’s vast wealth of pop culture knowledge makes her my first choice to call when I need an expert opinion on celebrity canoodling for OK! magazine. Her sense of humor and wit along with her insight into personal relationships make her an invaluable resource. Thanks, Coop!”

—Meaghan Murphy, West Coast news editor, OK! Magazine

 

 

Product Description

America’s fast-growing religion is—let’s face it—celebrity worship. From gossip magazines to entertainment TV, from blogs to ads featuring famous faces, the stars are our new gods and goddesses. But why are we so quick to put them on pedestals? Why are we even more spellbound when they topple back down to earth?

 

The Cult of Celebrity is the first book to explore this phenomenon comprehensively and yet in eminently readable terms. In a compulsive read, Cooper Lawrence maps out the psychology behind the behavior of the stars—and that of the millions out there who follow their every move. She points both to the benefits and dangers not only to society but also to us personally; to our spending habits, health, social awareness, attitude toward personal failure and toward relationships, and above all, our self-image. And she offers practical tips on keeping our interest under control. Drawing on the latest research as well as interviews with fans and entertainment industry insiders, as well as celebrities themselves, The Cult of Celebrity is as accessible and sassy as it is thought-provoking.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: skirt!; 1st edition (January 20, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599213354
• ISBN-13: 978-1599213354
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #359,158 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Vapid, March 2, 2009

By	Dave - See all my reviews

My wife recently borrowed this book from a friend of ours and - being mildly interested in the subject - I decided to give it a go. How glad I am that we did not pay for this tripe ourselves. Cooper Lawrence purports to be an 'expert' in the field of psychology. This is surely one of the grossest perversions of the truth that it is possible to make. This 'book' offers nothing of substance and each new chapter is as vapid and intellectually forlorn as the last.

One may be forgiven for thinking that this 'book' is merely a cynical attempt to fleece 'celebrity cultists' of their hard-earned money and time. There are more evocative and stimulating works on this subject; some of them have even been written by real psychologists and not a 'T.V talking-head pop psychologist'. Your $9 would be better spent on ice-cream; it contains about the same level of intelligent discourse, but has far more taste.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Horrible book, March 1, 2009

By	Michael Evans - See all my reviews

Drivel pure and simple... It seems Cooper knows more about writing then celebrities but just barely. If you need something to burn in your fireplace then buy a used copy, otherwise stay away.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Another terrible book, May 27, 2009

By	Computerdude1032 (St. Paul, MN) - See all my reviews

Apparently Cooper Lawrence continues to find it necessary to pump out new books every 3 months- probably because they sell so poorly. Anyways, just as with all her other books, this one again lacks any real research and focuses mostly on opinion rather than fact. I do not recommend this book, nor do I recommend any of her other books.