As an fan of television and pop culture in general, I truly enjoyed this book. It was a great mix of informative and fascinating.

This is a good companion book for readers who liked Cue the Sun!: The Invention of Reality TV.

You Are What You Watch is an informative exploration of media’s effect on society and vice versa. Topics are broad including television, the history of Hollywood, books, and wrestling.

I really enjoyed this and found it quite easy to consume. The audiobook was fantastic - although listeners beware that charts are referenced which does take away from the audio experience. I do think a lot of the points made were a bit superficial in that nothing felt too revelatory. I would have liked the author to have gone a bit deeper on certain topics.

Overall this was an interesting read and I’d broadly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

A very scientific look at what happens inside your body when you watch things on tv or movies in the theater. This book wasn't what I was expecting, but it was really fascinating. And though it was very fact filled and sciency, it was a really good book. I learned a lot about how what we watch (and even listen to) physically effects our bodies. Definitely worth the read.

You Are What You Watch is a well-researched, well-written, and very interesting look at the influence of TV and movies on every day life...and you might be surprised at what it finds.

It covers a wide range of topics including how what we watch affects pop culture like names, haircuts, merchandise, and which songs are popular. It even talks about how movies can inspire careers (there was a big jump in paleontologists after Jurassic Park, for example).

I'm a bit partial since it's one of my favorite topics and I have a whole blog about it, but I particularly appreciated the information on film tourism, because it truly is a big (underappreciated) industry.

And the list of movies supported...or not supported...by the Pentagon was also particularly interesting.

As an audiobook, the book kept my attention (until we got to the part about the WWE, but probably because that's an area that I don't have much personal interest in and don't know much about), so I would definitely recommend it for anyone interested in pop culture, sociology, or anything similar.

Book: You Are What You Watch
Author: Walt Hickey
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Nonfiction
Places Featured: N/A
Review Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a stingy rater and this is a solid 5/5 from me. I loved this book from the first paragraph. The information was riveting, fascinating, and sometimes alarming. And I loved every minute of it. It’s an audiobook that immediately makes me want want to buy a hard copy of the book to have on the shelf. I want to pour over the charts and graphics, and take it all in fully. It also made me want to finally read Jaws, which I’ve always put off though it’s one of my favorite films. Thanks so much for letting me have the chance to review it!

4/5 Stars

This was such an insightful, fun and passionate read. I absolutely loved listening to the author’s passion shine through, I feel like my mind was blown constantly. It’s a great balance between an individual love for movies and really well-researched insights. I feel like I have a deeper knowledge and respect for what goes into movies and how it interacts with politics, society, biology and capitalism.

While I know that there were lots of graphs in the book version, I didn’t feel like I missed out by listening to the audiobook instead. I felt equally engaged with the novel and understanding of the concepts explored.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Walt Hickey’s You Are What You Watch is a fascinating exploration of the profound impact that movies and television have on our lives. This audiobook, narrated by the talented Jonathan Todd Ross, delves into the ways in which visual media shapes our perceptions, behaviors, and even our identities.

Hickey’s book is a deep dive into the cultural and psychological effects of movies and TV shows. He examines how these forms of entertainment influence everything from our social norms to our personal aspirations.

The audiobook format, brought to life by Ross’s engaging narration, makes the content accessible and enjoyable, allowing listeners to absorb complex ideas with ease.

This book is structured into thematic chapters, each focusing on a different aspect of media influence. Hickey covers a wide range of topics, including the portrayal of gender roles, the impact of on-screen violence, and the ways in which media consumption affects our mental health. Each chapter is well-researched and packed with intriguing insights, making for a compelling listening experience.

Jonathan Todd Ross’s narration is a standout feature of this audiobook. His clear and expressive voice keeps listeners engaged, and his pacing is perfect for the material. Ross has a knack for emphasizing key points and bringing a sense of enthusiasm to the subject matter, which enhances the overall impact of Hickey’s work.

Hickey’s analysis is thorough and thought-provoking. He combines data-driven research with cultural commentary, providing a balanced perspective on the influence of media. His ability to connect the dots between different studies and real-world examples makes the content relatable and relevant.

Ross’s narration adds a dynamic layer to the audiobook. His ability to convey emotion and maintain a steady rhythm keeps listeners hooked from start to finish. The combination of Hickey’s insightful writing and Ross’s engaging delivery makes for a powerful listening experience.

The book covers a broad spectrum of topics, ensuring that there is something of interest for every listener. Whether you’re curious about the psychological effects of binge-watching or the societal impact of blockbuster films, Hickey provides valuable insights that will leave you thinking long after the audiobook ends.

You Are What You Watch explores the symbiotic relationship between media and society. Hickey delves into how media not only reflects but also shapes our values, beliefs, and behaviors. The book encourages listeners to critically examine their own media consumption and consider its broader implications.

You Are What You Watch is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of media and society. Walt Hickey’s well-researched and thought-provoking analysis, combined with Jonathan Todd Ross’s engaging narration, makes this audiobook a standout in its genre. It’s an enlightening journey that will change the way you think about the movies and TV shows you watch.

Whether you’re a media enthusiast, a casual viewer, or someone interested in cultural studies, this audiobook offers valuable insights and a fresh perspective on the power of visual media. Hickey’s work is a reminder of the profound impact that movies and TV have on our lives, and it challenges us to be more mindful of the content we consume.

This is my favorite type of audiobook: engaging, fun, and informative nonfiction. Part sociology, part science, with a heavy emphasis on data, "You Are What You Watch" covers a broad range of topics in a way that feels both accessible and thought-provoking. While it doesn't build toward a central narrative, the book dives into fascinating ideas, topic by topic, making it easy to follow even when jumping between subjects.

Having listened to this entirely in audiobook format, I did miss out on the charts that are referenced throughout, which would likely enhance the reading experience in print. However, I still found it incredibly enjoyable and would highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates this kind of format.

It reminded me of one of my favorite nonfiction audiobooks, "Free: The Future of a Radical Price," which I've listened to countless times over the years. Both books share an informative yet approachable tone, making them ideal for anyone looking to learn something new while being thoroughly entertained. The narrator did a great job.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This such a nerdy book. Not only is it full of niche movie and entertainment references, but it features scientific research studying said niche movies and entertainment. Overall, it was really interesting to see how movies and the things we consume affect us physically, emotionally, and culturally. My only complaint is that the ending felt kind of rushed, going straight from the impacts of the fanfiction movement to the end without any kind of conclusion or final statements.

Thank you to NetGalley and dreamscape Media for the arc of this audiobook!

First off alI want to give some praise to the narrator. He did an excellent job. He made everything he said sound interesting, and overall did a great job with this book.

This book was super informative. I’m glad to have read it and learn more about how the media I watch affects me.
I did find the book to lose my attention a few times, because of how much information was told at once. I think this is a topic everyone should learn a little about, however I think this book will do best with a specific audience who is highly interested in media, as it was quite niche.
I did enjoy the book, and definitely would recommend it, and especially in audiobook version!

Incredibly interesting! I was turned on to this by author Robin Hobb, and being someone who really enjoys reading about tv habits, history, etc, I thought this book had so many fascinating insights about what becomes popular and why people choose to watch certain things.

I absolutely loved this book! I’m a sucker for non-fiction and obsessed with movies (and reality tv… on and off). I enjoyed learning about how movies affect our body chemistry, how movies impact how we act, and how movies and capitalism really sell things to us. I enjoyed how there was so much data. I thought the information was very organized and I had a bunch of “did you know…” facts for my friends this week.

Everyone kind of already knows that we are what we eat, in this case media. The most fascinating parts are about the various media industries covered, especially the global ones. Although the author doesn't use the term, there was discussion about the mukokuseki strategy employed by Japanese industries for global uptake, and a more nuanced take on the steadfast nationalism still embedded in many of these cultural offerings. The author cites research, and, reading the other reviews, some of it was apparently his own, but this was not clear in the audiobook. In fact, this left a bit of a source taste in my throat, given what others have noted about the quality of this research, and my complete inability to look it up myself.

The premise of this one sounded interesting but unfortunately the actual narrative didn't work for me. I found the analysis and conclusions to be so obvious and, quite frankly, not particularly interesting. I wanted to like it but even with good narration, it didn't hold my attention.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

Overall, this is a very interesting book and will keep anyone engaged who has a passing interest in how culture impacts our lives, especially from a detailed scientific perspective. I will say I was a little surprised by how in the weeds this gets into topics like how we respond physiologically to different movie genres and how that can change the chemical composition of the air around us, which might be a bit more science-heavy than the casual reader who picks this up might expect.

I do think that I would have been better served to have read the print edition and not listened to the audiobook. The narrator does a great job, but there are a lot of references made to graphs and figures that I would have preferred to have seen and not explained to me.

3.75/5

Thank you so much NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ARC of this audiobook!

You Are What You Watch explores the ways in which the media we consume changes everything about the way we view the world and view ourselves. This was really fun to read in tandem with Christine Rosen’s, “The Extinction of Experience”, as some of the topics touched on in that book are expanded on in this one but through a more academic lens. My only gripe while listening was that because this book is research heavy, it was hard to keep momentum. However, if you are someone who enjoys data heavy pieces of work, you will likely really enjoy this! Because I listened to the audiobook, I was not able to view the charts show in the physical copy, which there are many. With that being said, I would recommend picking up a physical rather than the audiobook if that is something you are interested in. Overall, I found Hickey’s analysis of the power of entertainment super fascinating and informative!

You Are What You Watch will be published on September 17th, 2024.

You Are What You Watch was an intriguing listen. Walter Hickey takes a positive approach around the topic of how media effects us which was an interesting spin as most discussions around this topic tend toward the negative. Parts of this book - the information about violent movies, the Warner Brothers store, and strategies around binge watching and commercial advertisements was fascinating. However, there were other parts that seemed to drag on and were much less interesting. There wasn't a steady flow, and at times, it seemed quite disjointed. I'd also love to have some reach regarding the longterm effects of some of the claims he made.

Jonathan Todd Ross was a fantastic narrator and pleasant to listen to. A couple of downfalls of listening to the audio book was being able to see any graphs or graphics and to be able to check to see if he listed references and if so, what those might be. I understand by reading other reviews that there are indeed references in the hard copy.

I'd recommend this to anyone interested in media strategies and/or effects of media but would caution against this being an exhaustive explanation with little information about long term effects.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Walter Hickey for an audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a great book that goes deep and wide into all kinds of media consumption- from the chemical reactions in our bodies as a reaction to consuming media from fanfiction to cinematic techniques. It talks about the consumption side of it (i.e., chemical reactions) as well as the production side of it (i.e., how children's entertainment is produced to keep our fickle attention on it and yet, how there are laws preventing the misuse of it). I absolutely loved this book because it covers so many things I had no idea about in a very optimistic way that didn't leave me more cynical than I came in. There's a lot of charts in there (I love charts!!!) but I couldn't follow completely because I was reading in audio.

I really enjoyed everything about this book, from the content and flow to the engaging narrator. The author begins by saying that the book, "won't erode your ability to love what you enjoy...but rather love and appreciate them. You might love yourself more because of it." His mission was accomplished by the end.
The book opens with an presentation of empirical evidence of chemical responses in the body as audiences watch different genres of movies and links this to similar physiological responses we have when eating, so right away there's a strong feeling of consumption. How we watch movies and consume media has many of the same effects as eating food. Once that's been established, Hickey then goes on to explain the cinematic techniques used to grab the attention of audiences: why we like some things and not others, using the Star Wars prequels as effective examples, and again links this back to physiological responses in the body. He then moves on to media in pop culture and uses appropriate examples from recent years to demonstrate the impact cinema has on culture, such as baby names (Chandler and Xander), the increase in popularity of archery among women and, of course, The Rachel haircut. Later, Hickey discusses the relationship between the government, NASA, and the film industry and the impact these organizations have had using examples of both movies where they have been involved or provided opinion and movies where they have not, before talking about the film industry funding and tax evasion in the 1970's, the popularity and impact of marketing, specifically the Disney and WB stores of the 90s, and, my most favourite, nostalgia amongst Boomers and Millennials. Towards the end of the book, readers gain a better understanding of the use of commercials in streaming services and how these can actually help us retain and engage with the content we're watching. He does this using the same physiological tie-ins from earlier in the book, which makes for a cohesive argument overall. Finally, the book ends with a brief discussion of media on the global scale and looks at other countries and their impact on the industry, such as the increase in popularity of anime. Literally no stone was left unturned as Hickey touched upon the impact of cinema in all areas of culture!
Overall, this was a very well-structured and enjoyable listen/read, and while some components of it felt very similar to a Media and Culture 101 University class (that is to say, the information might not have been new), the way the information was presented and the build of the book made it successful, easy to follow and, in my opinion, accessible for a wide variety of listeners, from folks who know a bit about the subject already, to folks who might not know anything about it other than they just like movies. It had just enough of everything to keep the listener/reader engaged, from empirical experiments to sometimes quickly writing to relevant cultural references. The narrator had just enough liveliness without being over the top and I got the sense, based on their delivery, that they may have also enjoyed the content they were delivering. I would certainly recommend this audiobook! Thank you, NetGalley and Dreamscape Media, for the chance to listen :)

I found this non-fiction audiobook informative and captivating discussion about how the media we as consumers chose to view (i.e., television, movies and books) materially impacts our phycological, mental and emotional well being. The book also explored how our communities and the countries we live in can impact or manipulate the materials we consume via media.

The audiobook referenced charts and graphics at times that I did not have access too. Which might have helped bring the entire book together to be able to reference those while listening.

Thank you Dreamscape media and Netgalley for the ALC.