Celebrity books clubs
So I am very conflicted about celebrity book lists. There are two main benefits to these lists. The first is that the lists promote reading in adults. This is important since 60% of adults say that they would like to read more but don't feel that they have the time to (Liao, 2017). So anything that helps adults to make time in their schedule to read is a good thing. Additionally, this publicity is good for the author, helping them to sell more books. This is especially good for authors that are lesser known and would otherwise languish in obscurity. These ate both great reasons to promote celebrity book lists. There are other minor reasons that these are good such as having the potential to have people visit the library more, and for them to broaden their horizons. (Note: these are minor because they are harder to prove and observe, not because their impact is less important).
These are all great things but the problem that I have with these lists is that they can be used improperly. According to Liao, the celebrities that have large book clubs have only used it positively but that goes not mean that every celebrity in the future will use them in a positive way. This could be used to promote different agendas that could be harmful to society at large (e.g. rhetoric of intolerance). Though not able to be observed, I have also talked to patrons, who after reading some books from celebrity book lists, have given up on reading. That being said many more have expressed interest in reading because of these lists.
Overall, I think these lists are like anything else. You should always use your brain when you consume things, especially when it comes as a recommendation from someone that you don't know personally, even if it feels like you do.
References
Liao, Angela. (2017) Celebrity Book Clubs Create Virtual Reading Community.
These are all great things but the problem that I have with these lists is that they can be used improperly. According to Liao, the celebrities that have large book clubs have only used it positively but that goes not mean that every celebrity in the future will use them in a positive way. This could be used to promote different agendas that could be harmful to society at large (e.g. rhetoric of intolerance). Though not able to be observed, I have also talked to patrons, who after reading some books from celebrity book lists, have given up on reading. That being said many more have expressed interest in reading because of these lists.
Overall, I think these lists are like anything else. You should always use your brain when you consume things, especially when it comes as a recommendation from someone that you don't know personally, even if it feels like you do.
References
Liao, Angela. (2017) Celebrity Book Clubs Create Virtual Reading Community.
I agree, celebrity lists can be a double edged swords. The positives don't always outweigh the cons. Great viewpoints and full points!
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I was helping out at a bookshop in the summer of 2005 when Oprah picked a bunch of Faulkner novels and I had quite a bit of trouble with people who wanted light literary fiction for summer reading, not heavyweight tragedy and intellectual exercise. For a few people I'm sure it was a godsend but for most of us it was an inconvenience. Perhaps further study should go into the rubrics/methods celebrities use to choose their books? If there is one?
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