Customer Reviews

Everybody Hurts: An Essential Guide to Emo Culture

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This really is the perfect book for anyone looking to know a little more about what it means "to be emo" but its even better for people who already know the scene and just want a good chuckle. The book is a perfect blend of information and comedy, making a nice satirical music book.

(daughter of user)
I finished this book in 3-4 hours. Totally hilarious! It had me cracking up every couple of pages, and I totally agree with the thing about wearing belts so that the buckle is on the side, rather than the front of your pants. AWESOME!!!

ok, short review. i've been amazed by how the almost-impossible-to-define music genre of emo has proliferated and splintered into dozens of even-more-impossible-to-define subsets and nuances over the past few years. and how emo has become more mainstream, and -- surely -- the haven of the hip white kids. let the truly mainstream have their r&b and hip-hop and top-40. emo, like it's "alternative rock" predecessor, is in the midst of an identity crisis as it's growing popularity is antithetical to its "we're the forgotten" anti-conformity soul.

i admit, i'm a 45 year old dude. i am not allowed to be emo (though it is hilarious that my 14 year-old daughter has recently moved beyond her hip-hop and r&b only musical tastes and raided most of the emo from my itunes, causing a shudder in the generation gap of our household).

i bought this book because i wanted to understand more, and because i thought it looked like fun. and in some ways it provided both. in other ways, it was just too self-effacing and "i'm more hip than you because i make fun of the very affinity group i am part of". a few insights; too many lists of "the right record stores", "the right clothing stores" and such. worth a skim if you're interested in the subject; but not a high recommendation.

Really enjoyed the sarcasm and helpful hints offered. A must have for a modern day music lover! I enjoyed it from cover to cover including the illustrations.

I highly recommend this book. Its a good read for anyone who has, or is currently in their local scene or music group. It is very informative and gives a good perspective on life in and out of the scene.

This would have to be my favourite book of the year!
Never have I come across a book that describes a pop-culture scene so brutally honest, and with such sarcastic-humour, as this one does.
Now I would have to call myself "old" when relating to this scene. (I'm 26) - but that doesn't make me any less of a scenester to comment on it.
(I mean according to the "Adult Emo" quiz at the back, I still have some Fall Out Boy shows up my sleeve before I "retire"). If you're fascinated by all things "Emo" - I would have to say this would have to be the book for you. I think it also would be a great book to explain to your parents about - just so they won't freak out about your overusage of MySpace & tortured-teen-angst poetry lying around the lounge room.

If you are a parent, and trying to decide which scene your suddenly-rebellious teenager fits into - Emo or Goth. Read Volitaire's "What is Goth?" - another funny and spot on satire of the scene.

....anyway, enough of my ramblings...
To sum up: Buy it. It's good. The End.

I've been wanting to get this book for awhile and when I finally did, I couldn't put it down! The material is extremely fun and witty! All in all, a reader will probably only appreciate the content of this book if they can actually relate to the "emo scene" in some manner (i.e music, clothing, etc.) For someone who has a very vague idea of what "emo" is, this is the perfect guide to clarifying any and all questions one may have about this so called culture.

It's a funny book, and a good read if you've got some spare time, but it's so cliche. Overall it's pretty witty and amusing, but there are some parts that, if you're even remotely aware of the scene today, are obvious and unnecessary. I'd be more specific but I gave my copy away (I don't reread). It was a good waste of time, though, and I got a few kicks out of it. It's excellent light reading, and you can come back to it whenever because there's no plot (as there is in a novel). I enjoyed it, and I'd recommend it to others, but it's sort of a back-burner book, that can be put off. Not a must-read.

Reading through these "reviews" made me rather depressed. Apparently people don't have enough brains to catch on to the sarcasm of this book. It's an all around fun book to read while poking fun at the "scene" music and culture today. It's not to be taken seriously. People who hate this book are probably just emo kids who haven't seen the light of day in years.

I bought this book for my kids and ended up reading it after they set it down. LMAO! As a parent, I didn't get it before. Now I wish I didn't, but I still laughed. A fun book!