This Nonfiction best seller list from the New York Times is very revealing of American culture. Look for yourself! The list starts with a book about depression and becomes for morbid with a book about drug use. It also touches on our culture's insecurities and diet obsession with a health book and ends with a hard cover book about pop culture and an actress's biography. I feel like this list actually highlights the top 4 things our culture is centered around. Let's face it, almost everyone i know is depressed about something (ding ding that hits nonfiction hardcover number 1). Our world has become smothered with drug addicts who have probably become drug addicts because they were depressed (once again book #1). There are even popular reality TV shows now that depict drug addicts and their depression (Celebrity Rehab and Intervention are 2 great examples). Also, our culture is so sickly obsessed with pop culture and celebrities it is almost sickening. The amount of tabloid magazines, tabloid websites, and TV shows about celebrities is overwhelming, so it is no surprise to me that an actress's biography made the top 4 list. And lastly, who can get passed our health/diet conscious society. Every thing at the grocery store is organic or low fat or low calorie. The popularity of shows like the Biggest Loser and Celebrity Fitness draw attention our cultures interest in being thin and fit. In addition, there are diet magazines, diet commercials, and diet food every where you turn. \This list basically highlights the top 5 American culture obsessions:
1) Depression (emotional issues)
2)Drug addictions
3)Celebrities (pop culture)
4)Dieting (health conscious)
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