This book presents the unexpected in several different ways. The jacket copy isn't really accurate to what "You Have A New Memory" is about, but you can look past that. Arata's writing is always swift, often metaphoric, and sometimes cryptic. The tone feels like stream-of-consciousness, but that could be a rhetorical effect from years spent writing and reading on the internet. Her insights were surprising, timely, and relevant. The early essays--"America Online," "On Vibing," "What's Meant For You Won't Miss," and "The Museum of Who I Want To Be For You"--are the strongest and most memorable.

The essays after this point become longer and more repetitive. They become more ephemeral at the same time they become more personal. They grow more reflective while also becoming more self-contained, more solipsistic. I have no familiarity with Arata's online/social presence or work as a visual artist; I only know her through her writing. The first half of the collection felt like I was getting to know her. The second half felt more guarded, like she decided she no longer wanted to be known. (Again, this is when the essays become more personal, so a strange contradiction.)

The last essay ends on an elusive note, with Arata searching for the point of it all -- why go on living when even the earth is doomed to fail? -- a point of secret wisdom or grand conclusion that remains hidden to all writers. While not quite a platitude, the takeaway can best be summed up with Arata's "plastic bag theory": "Basically, the internet, like a plastic bag, is a container that is both disposable and forever, and when we use the internet we become disposable and forever too. . . . I am both a flimsy vessel and an agent of destruction" (ebook 2561). Arata makes several fine points in this book, and I read them as genuine and sincere, rather than ironic and nihilistic. But I also feel like the book is attempting to be a type of performance art, something temporary and self-effacing with the ambition of being remembered by its observers (readers).

Reflecting on this book reminds me of the opening line from Namwali Serpell's novel "The Furrows," "I don't want to tell you what happened. I want to tell you how it felt" (1). Arata might be suggesting a similar conviction in this book--to savor the feeling of reading her essays, even if you forget what they were ultimately about. Like standing up in a speeding car and feeling warm air hurtling toward your skin, while your eyes remain closed and incapable of articulating the details of the vista that escapes your understanding.

You Have A New Memory is Aiden Arata’s collection of essays on the internet’s intersections with our lives. The essays range from recounting the early days on the internet with instant messenger to the impact of social media on identity and culture to attending Catholic school to doomsday culture, and more. 

I was unfamiliar with Aiden Arata’s work but was intrigued by the Phoebe Bridgers blurb. I found Arata’s perspective to be really interesting. Her chapter on Me Too and sexual assault was some of the best writing on the subject that I’ve ever read. I also enjoyed the chapter on the internet and doomsday culture. My only gripe with this book is that the writing felt very dense to me at times. As I said, I think Arata has interesting things to say about the internet, social media, and mental health from the perspective of an influencer. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in reading about those topics.

A really interesting collection. A guided journey through the “influence industry” and more. Good writing, but sometimes a bit distant, which occasionally made it tricky to connect with it. Nevertheless, plenty of interesting chapters.

Aiden Arata’s latest book is a thought-provoking, incisive dive into the complex intersections of media, identity, and capitalism. Known for her sharp writing across platforms like The Rumpus and the popular Substack Under the Influence, Arata has a knack for blending wit, cultural commentary, and self-awareness in a way that both entertains and challenges the reader.

This book feels like an extension of their online presence: ironic but layered with moments of insight that strike a deeper chord. Arata examines the transactional nature of media and the ways in which capitalism shapes not just our consumption but our identities and aspirations. Their perspective is both personal and cultural, oscillating between love and hate for the systems they critique, which adds a compelling tension to the narrative.

While the tone can sometimes feel affected or overly polished, this doesn’t detract from the sharpness of Arata’s observations. There’s a robotic precision to Arata's prose that reflects the very systems she is dissecting, creating an interesting interplay between style and substance. It’s an enjoyable and engaging journey through the complexities of modern life and the media machine.

Arata’s voice is distinct, blending humor, skepticism, and a certain detached curiosity. The book’s glib tone may not appeal to everyone, but for those who enjoy a little cynicism with their cultural critique, it hits the mark. The self-awareness with which she navigated her own complicity in the media landscape—being a culture influencer with 120k Instagram followers—adds a refreshing honesty to the work.

Ultimately, this book isn’t about arriving at neat conclusions or offering solutions. It’s about asking the right questions and holding up a mirror to a world in which influence, consumption, and identity are inextricably linked. Arata may not have all the answers, but her ability to articulate the contradictions of our time makes this a worthwhile read.

If you’re a fan of their Substack or appreciate sharp cultural commentary with a dose of humor, this book is well worth picking up. It’s a fun, provocative ride through the paradoxes of modern life, written by someone who knows how to keep you thinking long after the final page.

#GrandCentralPublishing #AidenArata #youhaveanewmemory

I like Aiden’s internet presence (would that mean I like her work then lol) so I went into this with high hopes and feel a lil mixed bag about it. If I had to expand on that I guess it’s the tone, incredibly impersonal and removed (purposeful I’m assuming) but I feel like I need a tonal balance when the content of the essays is mostly internet economy based. Lots of pulled in citations too and references of other texts that felt chunky and not needed. Idk curious to what other people get from this tho

with meditations on girlhood, tech, social media, mental health, identity, and more, You Have A New Memory is a canon of information. this is a fascinating collection that gives readers a lot to reflect on about their own lives, whether its the reach of the latest tiktok you posted, your closest parasocial relationships, or what it really means to "influence". i enjoyed the writing even if all of the essays didn't strike a chord; undoubtedly an interesting collection that is worth the read.