Review by Ms. Carson, HHS Librarian
Does Paris Hilton make you gag? Me too.
Do you think "My Mommy's a MILF" shirts on toddlers are creepy? Umm, yep.
Do you just assume most photos are airbrushed and cleavage is silicone? Of course.
This is the world we now live in. Twenge and Campbell set out to document this alarming rise of superficiality and focus on "me-first" living that seems to have completely taken over our culture in the last three or four decades.
They make a lot of interesting (if not obvious) points: like maybe getting already self-centered preschoolers to sing songs about how much they love themselves is a bit...well...unnecessary. That self-esteem is better built through overcoming life's challenges and pushing yourself to admit your mistakes and make ammends. That true communties are built through shared memories and real-life connections, not "friending" on Facebook.
They also point out some surprising myths about narcissists: they don't secretly have low self-esteem. If fact, most narcissists actually believe they are better than other people. And don't even think about arguing with them. They are nasty when they don't get their own way.
If you are someone who already has a hard time tolerating North America's vapid, collective morality and obsession with looks, material wealth, and navel-gazing you may find yourself nodding your head in good company with the authors and saying, "I KNOW, sheesh!"
If you are a narcissist (and by traditional psychological measurements, most of us under 40 are), you might not see the big deal. Especially since you don't think there is anything wrong with you anyway.
An alarming read for parents (do you know what "FAP" means? I didn't and it is gross). An essential read for teachers (ever wonder why your grade four students need "makeovers"?). A hard read for teens (reality check: this is your life, one meaningless hook-up at a time).
I would highly recommend taking the time to check out The Narcissism Epidemic. Even if you only scan to the chapters that interest you (like "God Didn't Create You to be Average"). It might even inspire you to skip your weekly spa visit and volunteer at a soup kitchen. Maybe.
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