As David Letterman demonstrates on the Late Show, top ten lists are really funny. And we know lists are a great way to get organized, get things done, and streamline life’s many tasks. But now, pop culture expert Daniel Harmon takes a totally new approach to list making in his new book Super Pop! and organizes 500 movies, songs, video games, and books into top ten lists that not only have the power to entertain, but also to help create a new and better you! Super Pop! offers a maximum-pleasure, minimum-effort way to become smarter, happier, and a little bit more likely to survive a shark attack. This wide-ranging collection organizes pop culture’s greatest hits—including blockbusting movies, bestselling books, platinum albums, and more—into hilarious, provocative, and weirdly edifying top ten lists, and provides quick-hitting commentary in the nearly 500 entries.
Flo's Review
This book was...interesting. It's one of those books that you don't need to sit down and read cover to cover -- you can just pick it up and flip through it while you're listless. I actually spent about 45 minutes looking at it with my boyfriend one night and conversation pretty much went like this:
Him: That was a good {book, movie, song}!
Me: Never heard of it...
or this...
Me: That was a good {book, movie, song}!
Him: Haven't {read it, seen it, heard it}!
At any rate, since this is a book of Top Ten Lists, it makes most sense to me to pick -- in no particular order, just like the book -- the Top Ten Lists That I Enjoyed the Most:
10. Gain Emotional Intelligence: Mostly because it includes Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher and I love that book! AND Party of Five, which is close behind My So-Called Life as one of the best shows of my preteen/teenage years.
9. Be More Responsible: Because the "Essential for when" notes at the bottom of each selection made me laugh.
8. Get Motivated: Great songs on this list!
7. Stop Being Such a Snob: Because "Don't Stop Believin'," Angry Birds, and The Notebook can somehow make the same Top Ten List?! Only in this book!
6. How to Fix Pop Culture: Solely because it suggests, in an Alien vs Predator format, having a movie based on Harry Potter vs Edward Cullen.
5. Achieve Mindfulness: Because I might just live by some of the "Words to live by" Daniel Harmon suggests.
4. Go Where Everybody Knows Your Name: What a fun list! The bar in Cheers, backstage with Alice Cooper in Wayne's World and the Shire in Lord of the Rings were a few to make this list.
3. Find Your Happy Place: Because it mentions From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, which we all know is an amazing book.
2. Speeches Worth Heeding: Seriously? This list is amazing. All the speeches listed are epic.
1. Parties That Will Get You Pumped For Parties: The Hangover, "Gangnam Style," "Party Rock Anthem"? Yes, yes, and yes!
As you can see, this is a random book of random fun stuff. You wanna see for yourself? Fill out the Rafflecopter to win a copy for yourself:
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This post is part of a blog tour: click here to tour on!
Well...I learned one thing by reading this post. Flo has a boyfriend!!! One that isn't fictional??? How did I not know this???
ReplyDeleteLove this post! Thanks so much for being part of the Super Pop Super Summer Blog Tour. (Side note: I am also a huge fan of both Party of Five and My So Called Life. Angela Chase forever!)
ReplyDeleteThis was a fun book. I agree there were quite a few entries I scratched my head over. I either hadn't heard of them and/or he gave his age away by entering them into the list. lolz.
ReplyDeleteOverall it was fun to read through Super Pop. I enjoyed some of the memory lane trips when I saw a movie/song/person I hadn't thought of in quite a long time & I had fun debating him (in my head) over his choices.