Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

In Cass R. Sunstein’s thought-provoking audiobook, “How to Become Famous,” we embark on a captivating journey through the enigmatic world of fame. Narrated by Tom Beyer, this exploration transcends mere celebrity status, delving into the intricate mechanisms that propel some individuals to stardom while leaving others in obscurity.

Sunstein challenges the notion that fame is solely a result of matchless talent. He examines greatness, luck, and contingency as pivotal factors.

From John Keats to Ayn Rand, Sunstein sheds light on both famous and overlooked figures across various fields.

The history books and literary canon evolve over time, reshaping our understanding of fame.

🎧 This audiobook invites introspection—what if the Beatles had never existed? Would our world be the same?

I chose this book because the premise sounded interesting. How does one become famous? Is it timing, luck, or perseverance? The authors focuses on a few of his favorite celebrities, including the Beatles. It focuses on the movie,"Yesterday", which, a young singer finds out the Beatles do not exist in his world and uses their songs for his gain.

Many stories I didn't know, including Cassius Clay, AKA, Muhammad Ali, started to box after getting his bike stolen.

I would recommend this book if you like to know how celebrities became famous.

This is an interesting introspection of what constitutes fame and how people become famous. From a brief analysis of The Beatles' fame and the example of Ayn Rand's fame, this book details many of the variable factors that determine fame and how they can't be applied on a blanket basis. The narrator does an excellent job providing a voice to the facts.

I found this audiobook to be a captivating exploration of the often unpredictable paths to fame. Sunstein weaves together the stories of both overlooked geniuses and iconic figures like the Beatles, shedding light on the complex interplay of talent, opportunity, and societal influence. His engaging narrative and insightful analysis make this book both informative and enjoyable. What prevents it from being a perfect read is that, at times, the breadth of topics can feel slightly disjointed. Nonetheless, it's a compelling and thought-provoking examination of what it takes to achieve fame.

It was.. okay. Mildly interesting but I felt like it dragged out certain points unnecessarily. Things could have been written way quicker than they were. It get's a "meh" from me. Fine but... I'd rather listen to something else.

I chose this book out of curiosity. I wanted to know more about how one becomes famous, not because I want to but the process itself seems like a lottery. This book definitely did a deep dive on that process. It looks at various celebrities and compares them to similar individuals in their field who did not become famous. I loved that the author didn’t just talk about current famous individuals but ones from the past. This book was very informative. It’s for those who aren’t just looking for a surface level view. I think it is worth a listen.

Loved:
- Interesting conversation starters
- Interesting studies on music and shows that will become famous because it’s good vs. pop culture that is just famous for being famous
- How FOMO creates famous
- Recommendations that made people famous, eg. Oprah has high credibility and when she picks a book for book club, that book instantly becomes a bestseller even if no one has heard of the author before
- Famous people who have been given the chance too early or too late, artists who are worth more after they are deceased

Disliked:
Audiobook format - I was unable to flick to the parts I was interested in and had to sit through the parts I wasn’t interested in, some parts got a bit repetitive

Would recommend hardcover as a gift or coffee table book.

This was a pleasant and interesting read that explores fame, skill vs. luck and what it means to be known and/or forgotten. The author spends much of the book asking and trying to answer a lot of hypothetical questions surrounding the nature of fame i.e. can fame be replicated? do changemakers become who they are if they don’t have their important life changing event/meeting etc., and while these were interesting questions to ponder there wasn’t much more substance than that. I will say though, the author bringing in examples of fame from different historical periods and industries was what kept me interested during my listen, most non-fiction books about fame and celebrity culture lean very contemporary and are often just retellings of 2000’s tabloid culture or social media/online events of the last decade, so this was a refreshing addition the genre. Narration was great, I really enjoyed the narrator doing different voices when quoting others, it was enjoyable to listen to. Pacing felt a little slow at times but I think that may be a personal preference and it didn’t have much of an effect on my listening experience.

This wasn't quite what I expected based on the title and description. I'd thought it would be very analytical—burrowing into what made some people famous and others (equally as talented and hardworking) get nowhere. While it SORT OF was that, there was no real teeth in the analysis, just the author asking rhetorical questions like "Would the Beatles have become famous if they hadn't met Brian Epstein?" Anyone can ask questions like that. Everyone knows that fame is achieved only with high levels of luck and riding the zeitgeist, but the author didn't really delve into this in any kind of hardcore way. (I would also like to chastise the editor who allowed the word "terrific" to be in the text dozens of times.)

Still, it was a somewhat entertaining read. I just reviewed How to Become Famous by Cass R. Sunstein. #HowtoBecomeFamous #NetGalley Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.