Related to this there was a period of time maybe 2 years ago where online any and all ills related to self-improvement or productivity were prescribed “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. “I’m having trouble studying, any recommendations?” you’d get a two word response: Atomic Habits. “I’m trying to learn a new skill but can’t keep it together” “You should read Atomic Habits”. People weren’t forthcoming with why it was effective or what lessons they gleaned from it. But were effusive in their praise and insist that it should be read.
This also applies to television shows, everyone told me to watch Game of Thrones[1], and I know there’s an XKCD comic about the mathematics of television timesinks.
My theory - “recommendations” for media are never about you, the potential reader but are the result of availability heuristic and whatever is top-of-mind for the person doing the recommendation.
The flip side is that it causes this terrible imperative to consume content you have no personal interest in just to stay socially relevant. When cultural touchstones should, ideally, be about shared values—not having enough information to remain relevant at the proverbial watercooler
To paraphrase actual conversations: “Why?” “Well they get you really invested in these characters… and then they kill them” “And why would I want to put myself through that?” “Well… it’s just good okay!”
Related to this there was a period of time maybe 2 years ago where online any and all ills related to self-improvement or productivity were prescribed “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. “I’m having trouble studying, any recommendations?” you’d get a two word response: Atomic Habits. “I’m trying to learn a new skill but can’t keep it together” “You should read Atomic Habits”. People weren’t forthcoming with why it was effective or what lessons they gleaned from it. But were effusive in their praise and insist that it should be read.
This also applies to television shows, everyone told me to watch Game of Thrones[1], and I know there’s an XKCD comic about the mathematics of television timesinks.
My theory - “recommendations” for media are never about you, the potential reader but are the result of availability heuristic and whatever is top-of-mind for the person doing the recommendation.
The flip side is that it causes this terrible imperative to consume content you have no personal interest in just to stay socially relevant. When cultural touchstones should, ideally, be about shared values—not having enough information to remain relevant at the proverbial watercooler
To paraphrase actual conversations: “Why?” “Well they get you really invested in these characters… and then they kill them” “And why would I want to put myself through that?” “Well… it’s just good okay!”