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  <title><![CDATA[Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction]]></title>
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  <description><![CDATA[A prismatic portrait of our national obsession with celebrity, in the tradition of Fast Food Nation and Blink  For several years, Jake Halpern has reported on Hollywood for NPR's All Things Considered. In his new book, he explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America's obsession with fame. Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? Why do seemingly normal, educated people care about Paris Hilton's dating life? Why do teenage girls - when given the option of pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful - overwhelmingly opt for fame? Halpern answers these and other questions by traveling to America's fame factories and profiling a colorful and surprisingly insightful cast of characters, including diehard fans, aspiring stars, and celebrities like Rod Stewart and U2's The Edge. Interspersing these stories with new research including original findings from his own fame survey. Halpern helps us understand how psychology, technology, evolution, and profit conspire to make us so enthralled with the world of red carpets and velvet ropes.]]></description>
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    <![CDATA[A prismatic portrait of our national obsession with celebrity, in the tradition of Fast Food Nation and Blink  For several years, Jake Halpern has reported on Hollywood for NPR's All Things Considered. In his new book, he explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America's obsession with fame. Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? Why do seemingly normal, educated people care about Paris Hilton's dating life? Why do teenage girls - when given the option of pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful - overwhelmingly opt for fame? Halpern answers these and other questions by traveling to America's fame factories and profiling a colorful and surprisingly insightful cast of characters, including diehard fans, aspiring stars, and celebrities like Rod Stewart and U2's The Edge. Interspersing these stories with new research including original findings from his own fame survey. Halpern helps us understand how psychology, technology, evolution, and profit conspire to make us so enthralled with the world of red carpets and velvet ropes.]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[Great book about Americas obsession with Fame and Celebrities.]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction]]>
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    <![CDATA[A prismatic portrait of our national obsession with celebrity, in the tradition of Fast Food Nation and Blink  For several years, Jake Halpern has reported on Hollywood for NPR's All Things Considered. In his new book, he explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America's obsession with fame. Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? Why do seemingly normal, educated people care about Paris Hilton's dating life? Why do teenage girls - when given the option of pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful - overwhelmingly opt for fame? Halpern answers these and other questions by traveling to America's fame factories and profiling a colorful and surprisingly insightful cast of characters, including diehard fans, aspiring stars, and celebrities like Rod Stewart and U2's The Edge. Interspersing these stories with new research including original findings from his own fame survey. Halpern helps us understand how psychology, technology, evolution, and profit conspire to make us so enthralled with the world of red carpets and velvet ropes.]]>
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    <rating>4</rating>
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  <read_at>Mon Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
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    <body><![CDATA[Very well-researched and interesting.  Also very disturbing in some ways, although not disturbing enough to make me cancel my subscription to People magazine.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/15506063]]></url>
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction]]>
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  <average_rating>3.45</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[A prismatic portrait of our national obsession with celebrity, in the tradition of Fast Food Nation and Blink  For several years, Jake Halpern has reported on Hollywood for NPR's All Things Considered. In his new book, he explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America's obsession with fame. Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? Why do seemingly normal, educated people care about Paris Hilton's dating life? Why do teenage girls - when given the option of pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful - overwhelmingly opt for fame? Halpern answers these and other questions by traveling to America's fame factories and profiling a colorful and surprisingly insightful cast of characters, including diehard fans, aspiring stars, and celebrities like Rod Stewart and U2's The Edge. Interspersing these stories with new research including original findings from his own fame survey. Halpern helps us understand how psychology, technology, evolution, and profit conspire to make us so enthralled with the world of red carpets and velvet ropes.]]>
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  <published>2007</published>
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    <rating>3</rating>
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  <date_added>Wed Jul 02 16:49:32 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Jul 02 16:57:07 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This book is ok.  If you read media criticism or social commentary stuff there is probably nothing in it you haven't heard before [we are fed and consume the necessity of becoming famous; kids are more narcissistic these days; we're bowling alone and fantasizing about becoming stars to make up for l...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/26160838">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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</review>
      <review>
  <id>5038495</id>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction]]>
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  <average_rating>3.45</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>86</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[A prismatic portrait of our national obsession with celebrity, in the tradition of Fast Food Nation and Blink  For several years, Jake Halpern has reported on Hollywood for NPR's All Things Considered. In his new book, he explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America's obsession with fame. Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? Why do seemingly normal, educated people care about Paris Hilton's dating life? Why do teenage girls - when given the option of pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful - overwhelmingly opt for fame? Halpern answers these and other questions by traveling to America's fame factories and profiling a colorful and surprisingly insightful cast of characters, including diehard fans, aspiring stars, and celebrities like Rod Stewart and U2's The Edge. Interspersing these stories with new research including original findings from his own fame survey. Halpern helps us understand how psychology, technology, evolution, and profit conspire to make us so enthralled with the world of red carpets and velvet ropes.]]>
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    <rating>2</rating>
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  <read_at>Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Thu Aug 23 19:39:04 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Aug 26 20:47:34 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I picked up this book because I have several star struck nieces who like to keep tabs on stars with ET, and other such shows.  There was some intesting info in it.  And I didn't disagree with most of the conclusions, but...<br/><br/>I find it a bit hard to bite that what holds true for 5th, 6th, 7...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5038495">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction]]>
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  <average_rating>2.50</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>2</ratings_count>
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    <![CDATA[Why do more people watch American Idol than the nightly news? What is it about Paris Hilton&#8217;s dating life that is so intriguing? Why do teenage girls when given the option of &#8220;pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful&#8221; predominantly opt for fame? In this entertaining and enlightening book, Jake Halpern explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America&#8217;s obsession with fame. He travels to a Hollywood home for aspiring child actors and enrolls in a training program for aspiring celebrity assistants. He visits the offices of Us Weekly and a laboratory where monkeys give up food to stare at pictures of dominant members of their group. The book culminates in Halpern&#8217;s encounter with Rod Stewart&#8217;s biggest fan, a woman from Pittsburgh who nominated the singer for Hollywood&#8217;s Walk of Fame. Fame Junkies reveals how psychology, technology, and even evolution conspire to make the world of red carpets and velvet ropes so enthralling to all of us on the outside looking in.]]>
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    <rating>3</rating>
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  <read_at>Fri Oct 09 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
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  <date_updated>Sat Oct 10 09:49:28 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[I was really excited about this book and I was hoping that it would be very interesting.  Basically what I learned was that lonely people become obsessed with celebrities and that trying to improve kid's self-esteem actually makes them narcisists and that is why they think they're entitled to be sta...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74075413">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74075413]]></url>
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      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Cynthia]]></name>
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    <![CDATA[Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction]]>
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    <![CDATA[A prismatic portrait of our national obsession with celebrity, in the tradition of Fast Food Nation and Blink  For several years, Jake Halpern has reported on Hollywood for NPR's All Things Considered. In his new book, he explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America's obsession with fame. Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? Why do seemingly normal, educated people care about Paris Hilton's dating life? Why do teenage girls - when given the option of pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful - overwhelmingly opt for fame? Halpern answers these and other questions by traveling to America's fame factories and profiling a colorful and surprisingly insightful cast of characters, including diehard fans, aspiring stars, and celebrities like Rod Stewart and U2's The Edge. Interspersing these stories with new research including original findings from his own fame survey. Halpern helps us understand how psychology, technology, evolution, and profit conspire to make us so enthralled with the world of red carpets and velvet ropes.]]>
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  <published>2007</published>
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    <rating>2</rating>
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  <read_at>Tue Jun 23 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Jun 24 19:14:38 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Jun 24 19:14:38 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Would have made a better article than a whole book.  It's an interesting idea.  Cody said he'd rather be famous than anything (rich, etc).  Turns out, he's right with the rest of his demographic.  Painting broadly -- the typical young adult today believes he/she is &quot;special&quot; and is, theref...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/61003454">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[A prismatic portrait of our national obsession with celebrity, in the tradition of Fast Food Nation and Blink  For several years, Jake Halpern has reported on Hollywood for NPR's All Things Considered. In his new book, he explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America's obsession with fame. Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? Why do seemingly normal, educated people care about Paris Hilton's dating life? Why do teenage girls - when given the option of pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful - overwhelmingly opt for fame? Halpern answers these and other questions by traveling to America's fame factories and profiling a colorful and surprisingly insightful cast of characters, including diehard fans, aspiring stars, and celebrities like Rod Stewart and U2's The Edge. Interspersing these stories with new research including original findings from his own fame survey. Halpern helps us understand how psychology, technology, evolution, and profit conspire to make us so enthralled with the world of red carpets and velvet ropes.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2007</published>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
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  <read_at>Sun Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Mar 25 14:39:27 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Mar 25 14:42:43 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Why would middle schoolers rather be a personal assistant to Beyonce than a US Senator when they grow up? The quest for fame, even living near the famous. This is a helpful telling of that story. ]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/50438496]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/50438496]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>45053225</id>
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  <isbn13>9780618453696</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">21</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.45</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>86</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[A prismatic portrait of our national obsession with celebrity, in the tradition of Fast Food Nation and Blink  For several years, Jake Halpern has reported on Hollywood for NPR's All Things Considered. In his new book, he explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America's obsession with fame. Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? Why do seemingly normal, educated people care about Paris Hilton's dating life? Why do teenage girls - when given the option of pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful - overwhelmingly opt for fame? Halpern answers these and other questions by traveling to America's fame factories and profiling a colorful and surprisingly insightful cast of characters, including diehard fans, aspiring stars, and celebrities like Rod Stewart and U2's The Edge. Interspersing these stories with new research including original findings from his own fame survey. Halpern helps us understand how psychology, technology, evolution, and profit conspire to make us so enthralled with the world of red carpets and velvet ropes.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2007</published>
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  <read_at>Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Feb 01 11:50:37 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Feb 01 11:51:15 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I really liked this book. It was a quick, easy read. ]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/45053225]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
  <id>10729189</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Emily]]></name>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">21</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.45</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>86</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[A prismatic portrait of our national obsession with celebrity, in the tradition of Fast Food Nation and Blink  For several years, Jake Halpern has reported on Hollywood for NPR's All Things Considered. In his new book, he explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America's obsession with fame. Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? Why do seemingly normal, educated people care about Paris Hilton's dating life? Why do teenage girls - when given the option of pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful - overwhelmingly opt for fame? Halpern answers these and other questions by traveling to America's fame factories and profiling a colorful and surprisingly insightful cast of characters, including diehard fans, aspiring stars, and celebrities like Rod Stewart and U2's The Edge. Interspersing these stories with new research including original findings from his own fame survey. Halpern helps us understand how psychology, technology, evolution, and profit conspire to make us so enthralled with the world of red carpets and velvet ropes.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2007</published>
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    <rating>4</rating>
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  <read_at>Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Dec 19 20:45:37 -0800 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Dec 19 20:49:54 -0800 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[has America gone crazy with celebrity worship?  Halpern's book is based on an empirical study he did (though sample size was fairly small) of young people and how their view of celebrities has affected their views of themselves and of their futures.  The most disconcerting part (so sad but you can't...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/10729189">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/10729189]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/10729189]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>61124807</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Lori]]></name>
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  <isbn>061891871X</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780618918713</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">2</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.45</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>86</ratings_count>
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    <![CDATA[Why do more people watch American Idol than the nightly news? What is it about Paris Hilton&#8217;s dating life that is so intriguing? Why do teenage girls when given the option of &#8220;pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful&#8221; predominantly opt for fame? In this entertaining and enlightening book, Jake Halpern explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America&#8217;s obsession with fame. He travels to a Hollywood home for aspiring child actors and enrolls in a training program for aspiring celebrity assistants. He visits the offices of Us Weekly and a laboratory where monkeys give up food to stare at pictures of dominant members of their group. The book culminates in Halpern&#8217;s encounter with Rod Stewart&#8217;s biggest fan, a woman from Pittsburgh who nominated the singer for Hollywood&#8217;s Walk of Fame. Fame Junkies reveals how psychology, technology, and even evolution conspire to make the world of red carpets and velvet ropes so enthralling to all of us on the outside looking in.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2007</published>
</book>

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  <date_added>Thu Jun 25 18:11:37 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sun Sep 13 19:38:33 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Seems well-written and somewhat interesting, but ultimately i found that I just didn't care. I have a passing interest in the lives of celebrities occasionally, but I don't understand the obsessive nature of this issue that (apparently) many people have, and I wasn't patient or sympathetic enough to...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/61124807">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/61124807]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
  <id>6067336</id>
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    <name><![CDATA[Dan]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction]]>
  </title>
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  <average_rating>3.45</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>86</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[A prismatic portrait of our national obsession with celebrity, in the tradition of Fast Food Nation and Blink  For several years, Jake Halpern has reported on Hollywood for NPR's All Things Considered. In his new book, he explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America's obsession with fame. Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? Why do seemingly normal, educated people care about Paris Hilton's dating life? Why do teenage girls - when given the option of pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful - overwhelmingly opt for fame? Halpern answers these and other questions by traveling to America's fame factories and profiling a colorful and surprisingly insightful cast of characters, including diehard fans, aspiring stars, and celebrities like Rod Stewart and U2's The Edge. Interspersing these stories with new research including original findings from his own fame survey. Halpern helps us understand how psychology, technology, evolution, and profit conspire to make us so enthralled with the world of red carpets and velvet ropes.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2007</published>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[Everyone, Heidi]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Tue Sep 11 17:33:55 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Sep 11 17:36:21 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Super interesting book about America's culture of obsession with celebrity.  A good chunk of it focuses on the idea of parents wanting their kids and/or their kids wanting to become &quot;stars&quot; in some sense of the word.  <br/><br/>I really enjoyed this]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6067336]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6067336]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>17678730</id>
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    <id>372796</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Seanny]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[The United States]]></location>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">21</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170619076m/63746.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170619076s/63746.jpg</small_image_url>
  <link>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63746.Fame_Junkies_The_Hidden_Truths_Behind_America_s_Favorite_Addiction</link>
  <average_rating>3.45</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>86</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[A prismatic portrait of our national obsession with celebrity, in the tradition of Fast Food Nation and Blink  For several years, Jake Halpern has reported on Hollywood for NPR's All Things Considered. In his new book, he explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America's obsession with fame. Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? Why do seemingly normal, educated people care about Paris Hilton's dating life? Why do teenage girls - when given the option of pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful - overwhelmingly opt for fame? Halpern answers these and other questions by traveling to America's fame factories and profiling a colorful and surprisingly insightful cast of characters, including diehard fans, aspiring stars, and celebrities like Rod Stewart and U2's The Edge. Interspersing these stories with new research including original findings from his own fame survey. Halpern helps us understand how psychology, technology, evolution, and profit conspire to make us so enthralled with the world of red carpets and velvet ropes.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2007</published>
</book>

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  <date_added>Thu Mar 13 10:32:26 -0700 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Mar 13 10:33:31 -0700 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Interesting. Explains a lot of things you probably already thought about America, but gives stories and statistics to confirm and scare the reality into you. Stop watching tv.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/17678730]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/17678730]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>6731869</id>
    <user>
    <id>411997</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Jen]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Collingswood, NJ]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/411997-jen]]></link>
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  <isbn>0618453695</isbn>
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  <text_reviews_count type="integer">21</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170619076m/63746.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170619076s/63746.jpg</small_image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.45</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>86</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[A prismatic portrait of our national obsession with celebrity, in the tradition of Fast Food Nation and Blink  For several years, Jake Halpern has reported on Hollywood for NPR's All Things Considered. In his new book, he explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America's obsession with fame. Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? Why do seemingly normal, educated people care about Paris Hilton's dating life? Why do teenage girls - when given the option of pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful - overwhelmingly opt for fame? Halpern answers these and other questions by traveling to America's fame factories and profiling a colorful and surprisingly insightful cast of characters, including diehard fans, aspiring stars, and celebrities like Rod Stewart and U2's The Edge. Interspersing these stories with new research including original findings from his own fame survey. Halpern helps us understand how psychology, technology, evolution, and profit conspire to make us so enthralled with the world of red carpets and velvet ropes.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2007</published>
</book>

    <rating>3</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <read_at>Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Sep 24 17:31:04 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Sep 25 05:22:52 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Fascinating look into why people are so obsessed with celebrity and fame. Appropriate for these times, don't you think?<br/><br/>I reviewed this book for the Philadelphia Inquirer.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6731869]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6731869]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>4516282</id>
    <user>
    <id>277307</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Katie]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Portland, OR]]></location>
    <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/277307-katie]]></link>
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  <isbn>0618453695</isbn>
  <isbn13>9780618453696</isbn13>
  <text_reviews_count type="integer">21</text_reviews_count>
  <title>
    <![CDATA[Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction]]>
  </title>
  <image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170619076m/63746.jpg</image_url>
  <small_image_url>http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170619076s/63746.jpg</small_image_url>
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  <average_rating>3.45</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>86</ratings_count>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[A prismatic portrait of our national obsession with celebrity, in the tradition of Fast Food Nation and Blink  For several years, Jake Halpern has reported on Hollywood for NPR's All Things Considered. In his new book, he explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America's obsession with fame. Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? Why do seemingly normal, educated people care about Paris Hilton's dating life? Why do teenage girls - when given the option of pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful - overwhelmingly opt for fame? Halpern answers these and other questions by traveling to America's fame factories and profiling a colorful and surprisingly insightful cast of characters, including diehard fans, aspiring stars, and celebrities like Rod Stewart and U2's The Edge. Interspersing these stories with new research including original findings from his own fame survey. Halpern helps us understand how psychology, technology, evolution, and profit conspire to make us so enthralled with the world of red carpets and velvet ropes.]]>
  </description>
  <published>2007</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
  <votes>0</votes>
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  <recommended_for><![CDATA[people who are interested in the actual life of fame]]></recommended_for>
  <recommended_by><![CDATA[]]></recommended_by>
  <read_at>Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Aug 13 23:39:57 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Aug 13 23:39:57 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[that it's not so easy to get a modeling job, and that a lot of kids who want to model, and who want fame are given lots of false hope by the agents, and the get ripped off.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4516282]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4516282]]></link>
</review>
      <review>
  <id>13614587</id>
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    <id>301501</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Erin]]></name>
    <location><![CDATA[Charleston, WV]]></location>
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    <![CDATA[Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction]]>
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    <![CDATA[A prismatic portrait of our national obsession with celebrity, in the tradition of Fast Food Nation and Blink  For several years, Jake Halpern has reported on Hollywood for NPR's All Things Considered. In his new book, he explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America's obsession with fame. Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? Why do seemingly normal, educated people care about Paris Hilton's dating life? Why do teenage girls - when given the option of pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful - overwhelmingly opt for fame? Halpern answers these and other questions by traveling to America's fame factories and profiling a colorful and surprisingly insightful cast of characters, including diehard fans, aspiring stars, and celebrities like Rod Stewart and U2's The Edge. Interspersing these stories with new research including original findings from his own fame survey. Halpern helps us understand how psychology, technology, evolution, and profit conspire to make us so enthralled with the world of red carpets and velvet ropes.]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[Interesting, especially the sections about the apartment complex for child actors and the Rod Stewart fan.  Quick read.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/13614587]]></url>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction]]>
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    <![CDATA[A prismatic portrait of our national obsession with celebrity, in the tradition of Fast Food Nation and Blink  For several years, Jake Halpern has reported on Hollywood for NPR's All Things Considered. In his new book, he explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America's obsession with fame. Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? Why do seemingly normal, educated people care about Paris Hilton's dating life? Why do teenage girls - when given the option of pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful - overwhelmingly opt for fame? Halpern answers these and other questions by traveling to America's fame factories and profiling a colorful and surprisingly insightful cast of characters, including diehard fans, aspiring stars, and celebrities like Rod Stewart and U2's The Edge. Interspersing these stories with new research including original findings from his own fame survey. Halpern helps us understand how psychology, technology, evolution, and profit conspire to make us so enthralled with the world of red carpets and velvet ropes.]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[Meh, I was expecting more. Too many studies about self-esteem, body image, etc. The narrative parts were the best.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1451153]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1451153]]></link>
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      <review>
  <id>7082553</id>
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    <id>41543</id>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction]]>
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    <![CDATA[A prismatic portrait of our national obsession with celebrity, in the tradition of Fast Food Nation and Blink  For several years, Jake Halpern has reported on Hollywood for NPR's All Things Considered. In his new book, he explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America's obsession with fame. Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? Why do seemingly normal, educated people care about Paris Hilton's dating life? Why do teenage girls - when given the option of pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful - overwhelmingly opt for fame? Halpern answers these and other questions by traveling to America's fame factories and profiling a colorful and surprisingly insightful cast of characters, including diehard fans, aspiring stars, and celebrities like Rod Stewart and U2's The Edge. Interspersing these stories with new research including original findings from his own fame survey. Halpern helps us understand how psychology, technology, evolution, and profit conspire to make us so enthralled with the world of red carpets and velvet ropes.]]>
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  <date_added>Mon Oct 01 08:44:33 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Oct 01 08:45:50 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I'm convinced I'm a victim of the personal fable. damn the self-esteem education of the eighties.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7082553]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7082553]]></link>
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      <review>
  <id>3474923</id>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction]]>
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    <![CDATA[A prismatic portrait of our national obsession with celebrity, in the tradition of Fast Food Nation and Blink  For several years, Jake Halpern has reported on Hollywood for NPR's All Things Considered. In his new book, he explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America's obsession with fame. Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? Why do seemingly normal, educated people care about Paris Hilton's dating life? Why do teenage girls - when given the option of pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful - overwhelmingly opt for fame? Halpern answers these and other questions by traveling to America's fame factories and profiling a colorful and surprisingly insightful cast of characters, including diehard fans, aspiring stars, and celebrities like Rod Stewart and U2's The Edge. Interspersing these stories with new research including original findings from his own fame survey. Halpern helps us understand how psychology, technology, evolution, and profit conspire to make us so enthralled with the world of red carpets and velvet ropes.]]>
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  <date_added>Tue Jul 24 16:24:30 -0700 2007</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Jul 24 16:24:57 -0700 2007</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[Doesn't really offer any answers, but the exploration of the subject is entertaining and insightful.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3474923]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3474923]]></link>
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      <review>
  <id>22851496</id>
    <user>
    <id>1012614</id>
    <name><![CDATA[Mark]]></name>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction]]>
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  <average_rating>3.45</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[A prismatic portrait of our national obsession with celebrity, in the tradition of Fast Food Nation and Blink  For several years, Jake Halpern has reported on Hollywood for NPR's All Things Considered. In his new book, he explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America's obsession with fame. Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? Why do seemingly normal, educated people care about Paris Hilton's dating life? Why do teenage girls - when given the option of pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful - overwhelmingly opt for fame? Halpern answers these and other questions by traveling to America's fame factories and profiling a colorful and surprisingly insightful cast of characters, including diehard fans, aspiring stars, and celebrities like Rod Stewart and U2's The Edge. Interspersing these stories with new research including original findings from his own fame survey. Halpern helps us understand how psychology, technology, evolution, and profit conspire to make us so enthralled with the world of red carpets and velvet ropes.]]>
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  <published>2007</published>
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    <body><![CDATA[I wanted to like it more... but it just didn't get up &amp; move somewhere interesting. ]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/22851496]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/22851496]]></link>
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      <review>
  <id>16052017</id>
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    <![CDATA[Fame Junkies: The Hidden Truths Behind America's Favorite Addiction]]>
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    <![CDATA[A prismatic portrait of our national obsession with celebrity, in the tradition of Fast Food Nation and Blink  For several years, Jake Halpern has reported on Hollywood for NPR's All Things Considered. In his new book, he explores the fascinating and often dark implications of America's obsession with fame. Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? Why do seemingly normal, educated people care about Paris Hilton's dating life? Why do teenage girls - when given the option of pressing a magic button and becoming either stronger, smarter, famous, or more beautiful - overwhelmingly opt for fame? Halpern answers these and other questions by traveling to America's fame factories and profiling a colorful and surprisingly insightful cast of characters, including diehard fans, aspiring stars, and celebrities like Rod Stewart and U2's The Edge. Interspersing these stories with new research including original findings from his own fame survey. Halpern helps us understand how psychology, technology, evolution, and profit conspire to make us so enthralled with the world of red carpets and velvet ropes.]]>
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  <date_added>Thu Feb 21 20:52:15 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Feb 21 20:53:05 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[a good read for anyone living in l.a. or working with &quot;the industry&quot;]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16052017]]></url>
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