Writing in the 1990s, media scholar Douglas Kellner argued that the stories we encounter in media provide the groundwork for a common culture and tell how to participate in that culture. Danielle Lindemann takes a specific and revealing approach to this perspective in {True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us}, considering the stories that unscripted television offers about race, class, gender, individuals and families. She proclaims up front that she is a fan of reality television, and later in the book also calls herself a “social science nerd,” indicating that her fandom is inevitably framed by her ongoing cultural analysis.

While there are some debates about the precise beginning of reality television, Lindemann takes MTV’s {The Real World}, often considered as the first offering in the genre, as the starting point of her study. She establishes how {The Real World}, especially in the seasons before the cast became consistently self aware about their role in the project, teaches audiences to think sociologically by examining how race, class, and gender shape our lives. This is Lindemann’s project as well: each chapter begins with an informal discussion of the sociological theories that readers and audiences can use to make sense of what reality television teaches about society.

Lindemann's familiarity with reality tv and its characters implies that readers have similar knowledge: she seldom offers much context for the series or scenes under discussion. These shortcuts do not interfere with making sense of her analyses, but the casual references might be irritating for some readers who stand outside of this popular discourse. She is also parenthetically present, offering real life, real time input. For example, in a discussion of {90 Day Fiance}, Lindemann mentions that one of the participants, Danielle, “is a chunky, middle-aged white woman typically outfitted in glasses and sweatpants,” after which she adds a parenthetical note: “no shade: I’m currently wearing sweatpants.” Part of the pleasure here is the conversational aside that brings the author to the table, while also drawing the line between a textbook and a well-written book that facilitates that same kind of learning that a textbook might.

The first part of the book considers reality television from a human perspective, with chapters devoted to the self, couples, groups. families and childhood. The couples chapter focuses on {The Bachelor}, exploring how the various incarnations of the series reify traditional gender roles, especially with regard to sexual behavior. Like {The Bachelor}, the plethora of reality TV series deriving their plotlines from marriages and weddings supports Lindemann’s primary argument: reality television reflects what the audience values, then reinforces those values by scripting narratives around them for audiences to observe and consider the social norms surrounding couplehood.

Lindemann’s chapter on groups in reality TV begins with a brief discussion of sociologist George Simmel’s work, creating an academic construct that provides some structure for the discussion. {Survivor} is unsurprisingly the initial focus. Henry Jenkins, who coined the term “aca-fan” to describe the researcher who is simultaneously a fan doing full disclosure of their subject position, wrote extensively about {Survivor} in his book {Convergence Culture} (2008), but from a significantly different perspective. Jenkins focused on how fans online worked together to figure out where the seasons were filmed and which contestants were eliminated and in what order. Lindemann focuses on the social dynamics of dyads and triads among the tribe, recalling Simmel’s work on the “divide and rule” member of a triad, who creates conflict among his team for his own gain. The subject in this example is Richard Hatch, the winner of the first season of {Survivor}, who Lindemann notes is often remembered as the guy who walked around naked. Dyads and triads are readily applied to several other reality television series, some that are directly focused on competition and others, like the {Housewifes} shows that focus on lifestyles and inevitably result in interpersonal competition among neighbors and friends.

The Kardashians and {Sister Wives} are among the various series discussed in the family chapter, showing Lindemann’s desire to include different families and types of shows in all of the chapters. Space is also devoted to “bad” mothers like Mama June, the mother of Alana Thompson, star of {Here Comes Honey Boo Boo}. That Mama June willfully ignore social norms is a source of pleasure for viewers, while also confirming expectations for the characters. Lindemann’s final chapter is devoted to social deviance, but the topic comes up throughout the book, as those who break rules and “behave badly” are often the focus of reality television. Yet Lindemann concludes that a single model for family and for parenting cannot be applied across all socioeconomic, racial and cultural circumstances. Perhaps this can help viewers understand each other, rather than judge each other.

Part two takes up topics of race, class, gender, sexuality, and deviance. Exploration of these aspects of society also refer back to the first part of the book, enhancing the understanding of social structures already developed in her analyses.

Intersectionality--understanding that people’s identity is constructed through a variety of personal qualities and experiences--is pervasive in Lindenmann’s work. She argues that reality tv gives us endless examples of how we use these qualities to create stereotypes. She explains how race and gender--covered in two separate chapters but joined intersectionality--are both created categories, offering a sociological overview that helpfully positions the category within larger social concerns. Lindemann deftly uses {RuPaul’s Drag Race} to explain precisely how gender is a performance.The queens who compete on the series not only perform the gender they are adopting but also show how much work goes into creating our gendered selves. That performative gender is established early in life is exemplified by {Toddlers & Tiaras}, which subjects its child contestants to makeup, wigs, gowns, and other accoutrement of hyperfemininity. The correlations between {Drag Race} and {Toddlers & Tiaras} are striking, showing how reality television uses gender as a means of cultural critique and humor. Gender is one of our most significant social categories, yet reality television constantly questions how we make sense of it.

Finally, {True Story} effectively serves as a media critique and a sociological primer. This insightful book is a rich resource for fans and public intellectuals alike.

If you are into any kind of sociological examination of popular culture, this is exactly that. i don’t think there was anything in here that stuck out to me as revelatory but i enjoyed it nonetheless.

An interesting study on reality TV and how much of it is actually real as well as what draws people to it. I like that it’s taken seriously as worthy of study.

Well written book that, while expertly researched, didn’t sound too academic for a general audience.

A self-professed reality TV junkie since middle school, I appreciated this academic look at why we watch these low-brow shows and what they reflect about our society.

Dr. Lindemann has crafted a compelling investigation of reality TV that prompts much self-reflection and critical thinking. Her chapter structure and case studies are quite accessible and would serve well both as a main text for a course and as a series of selections in courses regarding media, culture, and communication. I plan to develop a proposal for a special topics course on reality television, and if approved, will be using True Story as a central text.

This non-fiction book is a sociological work about, as the subtitle says, what reality tv says about our society. It’s neither for or against reality tv as a genre - although you can tell the author is a big fan! Rather, it explores how reality television shows illuminate, and occasionally subvert, various societal ideals and social constructs about everything from dating and marriage, family, race, class, gender, sexuality, and more.

I am a big fan of reality tv myself, and was also a sociology major in college, so it definitely was an interesting read for me and reminded me of various theories and sociologists I learned about in college - though that was so long ago that reality tv barely existed back then. 😂 But I’d say overall this book is probably too much on the academic side to appeal to most casual readers. Even I was very engaged in it to start, but then kind of lost steam in my reading as it went on. But if you too were a sociology major, or if you’re a fan of reality tv interested in thinking about it in a more academic way, it’s worth a read.

A fascinating read about the popularity of reality TV shows and how it reflects society. Although the author only uses US based shows, as an international reader (and reality TV show watcher) I see similar patterns in non-US based reality shows.
Next time someone asks why I'm watching a particular show, I'll say I'm doing social research.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.

SNL did a sketch on UK's <i>Love Island</i> where the narrator says - <i>you <b>will</b> watch 50 hours of this. You think you won't but you will. </i>And when I tuned into my very first reality show - Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, I realized how right that narrator in the sketch was. There are tiny nuggets of useless information about housewives that's found permanent residence in my brain.

The author digs down and deep and explores the sociology of reality TV. What's the allure, what's the appeal to unlikable people with incredible privilege, why the attraction towards petty drama between people when there are genuine problems around us? Its perhaps another form of escapist television since majority of the time the "real" people seem incredibly scripted and putting on a show for a dime. But once in a while, the realness comes out unwittingly exposing an echelon of people clinging on to archaic definitions of classism, elitism, corruption of thoughts, racism, sexism, making a caricature and stereotyping minorities and often fetishization of queers.

Being non-American, non-western, the author's exploration of the cultural impact both domestically and internationally made for an interesting read.

<i>Thank you to Netgalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for providing me with a free copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.</i>

My full review appeared in Chicago Review of Books— I thought this was an interesting and readable exploration.

For the longest time, I would say reality television was my "guilty pleasure." I considered myself to be a smart woman and I thought that by admitting I unabashedly loved reality tv that it would take away from my accomplishments. But then, a few years ago, I took a step back to examine why I felt that way. Reality television is most closely associated with women, and because of that, it's seen as frivolous and having no value. Interesting that society is okay with men stopping absolutely everything in their lives to watch sports, but when a woman wants to watch a Housewives reunion, it's seen as mindless entertainment.

I really, really enjoyed this read. I loved how the author tied in actual research and findings as to why reality tv is not only entertaining, but has had indelible impacts on our society. At times, this book did read a bit too academic, but how could it not?

I'm going to have to buy this book; I really need a copy on my shelf because there are so many chapters I want to re-read. If you have any interest in reality tv, this book is for you.

It was really interesting to read this analysis of reality TV shows and what they tell about the people who watch them and even the society itself. I would recommend this book to anyone who's interested in the psychological and sociological point of view of reality TV shows

This book is written from a sociological perspective to examine what exactly about our society reality TV reflects back at us. The author examines socially constructed phenomena, such as gender, race, and class, as well as social features ranging from the family dynamic to coping with mental health. Each chapter provides an in-depth analysis of how a specific social feature may be presented to uphold the status quo and/or to challenge the related norms and push the boundaries of what’s permitted.

The author ultimately holds that reality TV acts as a mirror for society. It reflects our values back at us in addition to revealing a small potential (and sometimes hope) for change. We’re drawn to unscripted characters both for the drama (yes, sometimes it’s just entertaining) and for how we might see ourselves in others.

This book creates a unique space that legitimizes the often unnoticed benefits of reality TV while still critiquing its problems. I finished the book feeling like I shouldn’t call reality TV a guilty pleasure anymore because there are valid reasons we’re drawn to it, and it has value for allowing us to examine our social categories under a spotlight.

If you enjoy reality TV, you’ll enjoy this book. It’s such a fun and smooth read. Well-written, witty, and insightful. If you are a hater of reality TV, you might just be convinced by Lindemann’s take. Either way, I highly recommend this one.

I have not completely read this work just yet...but I will be reviewing this work for Studies in Popular Culture in the next several weeks...so far, though, it is quite fantastic. Easily readable with great personal anecdotes and strong textual analysis of shows that many people watch and enjoy. It is impressive., thorough, and not repetitive which is most helpful...many of works like this can easily go around and around, and it doesn't. On its way to a 5 star review...methinks.

3.5 stars rounded up. While I expected this to be a more pop culture-y nonfiction (Cultish-esque) read due to the assumed frivolity of the topic, True Story read a bit more textbook-like. I appreciated the intro and history of reality tv and proto-reality tv. However, the sociological theories and theorists constantly thrown your way in part 1 slowed me down and made the book feel lless like a casual nonfiction read and more of an academic text. Fortunately in Part 2 it picked up, It was my favorite section. It's was everything I hoped to gain from this True Story. An unmasking, an inspection of interactions between reality tv stars and contestants, and how it's all of reflection of American values. Props to Lindemann for having her intersectionality goggles on. I did not realize how much reality TV I've watched until she kept using them as examples. Completely recommend to anyone who embarrassedly or unabashedly loves reality tv.

A deep dive sociologically and culturally into the reality tv world that was very much appreciated by this self described reality tv junkie. There were some very interesting and at times obscure cuts from back in the day (does anyone else remember My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding or is it just me?!). The only thing on the negative side for me was that there were too many references to long dead sociologists that didn’t on the whole to be relevant to some of the topics that the author was discussing. Also it lagged a bit towards the end. With that being said, I think like most people who have seen their fair share of this genre of television, you will gain something from this book after reading it, if only a new list of shows to add to your watch list.

Here’s the best line in the book that summarizes the concept of reality tv really well: “What we experience as reality, is not universal and static but a shifting amalgam like Countess LuAnn. Who and what get to be seen as legitimate? Who takes a seat within the core of society, and who is confined to the margins? What constitutes an authentic family or a real childhood? Who’s allowed to be mean? How do we think about women and sexuality and racial minorities and wealth and our own bodies and what’s tasteful and what’s not? Reality television teaches us how the categories and meanings we us to organize our worlds are built on unsteady ground.”

Thank you to Netgalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for this eARC copy ❤️📚📺

True Story fantastically illustrates how the culture at large, primarily America, has shaped itself around reality TV in the same way that the baby boomer generation shaped itself around Leave It To Beaver and I Love Lucy. Danielle J. Lindemann intelligently draws research and conclusions in easy-to-grasp concepts, making the reader feel both informed and entertained by the presented information. Truthfully.

I'm not a huge Reality TV watcher, but I thought 'True Story" might be a good entry point to understand the genre. And... it is and it isn't. What this isn't is a history of Reality Television. It's definitely more academic than I expected, but that's not a bad thing. I can't fault a book for being what it is. I did find the book interesting and Lindemann's takes on how Reality TV reflects society and vice versa, but I guess I wanted something lighter.

“A sociological study of reality TV that explores its rise as a culture-dominating medium—and what the genre reveals about our attitudes toward race, gender, class, and sexuality.”

Lindemann applies scholarly research to different shows to illustrate various theoretical approaches and sociological issues. It was a an entertaining exploration of reality tv through a sociological lens. This would be a great starting point for making some sociological theories accessible and relevant to students (in particular, those who are fans of reality tv).

As someone who works in the TV industry I found this analysis of our current trends to be absolutely fascinating. The societal impact of reality tv cannot be ignored and this account is interesting, in-depth, and engaging. absolutely loved it.