Reddit meter
Trick Mirror
320 pages, 2019
Trick Mirror is an enlightening, unforgettable trip through the river of self-delusion that surges just beneath the surface of our lives. This book is about the incentives that shape us and how hard it is to see ourselves clearly through a culture that revolves around the self.
In each essay, Tolentino writes about a cultural prism: the rise of the nightmare social internet; the advent of scamming as the definitive millennial ethos.
The literary heroine’s journey from brave to blank to bitter; is the punitive dream of optimization, which insists that everything, including our bodies, should become more efficient and beautiful until we die.
With Tolentino’s sense of humor and capacity to elucidate the impossibly complex in an instant, and marked by her desire to treat the reader with profound honesty, Trick Mirror is an instant classic of the worst decade yet.
In Trick Mirror, Jia Tolentino explores the profound impact of the internet on our lives. She suggests that it has changed the way we perceive ourselves and others, often leading to a distorted self-image. It's worth taking a look at how your own online behavior might be affecting your self-perception.
Tolentino digs into the societal pressure to appear perfect, especially for women. She argues that this pressure is amplified by social media, where everyone seems to have a perfect life. This book encourages you to question these unrealistic standards and find comfort in your own imperfections.
Trick Mirror takes a deep look into the culture of scamming. Tolentino sees it as a reflection of our society's obsession with success at any cost. This book will make you think twice about the lengths people go to achieve success and the ethical implications of their actions.
Reality TV is another topic Tolentino explores in Trick Mirror. She suggests that it has shaped our culture in surprising ways, from our attitudes towards fame to our understanding of reality itself. Check out this book if you're interested in the impact of popular culture on society.
Throughout Trick Mirror, Tolentino emphasizes the importance of self-reflection. She believes that by examining our own beliefs and behaviors, we can better understand the world around us. This book invites you to take a step back and reflect on your own life and the society you live in.
Quotes 3
Trick Mirror is an enlightening, unforgettable trip through the river of self-delusion that surges just beneath the surface of our lives. This is a book about the incentives that shape us, and about how hard it is to see ourselves clearly through a culture that revolves around the self.
Rebecca Solnit - Writer, Historian, ActivistJia Tolentino is the best young essayist at work in the United States, one who writes with breath-taking velocity and compelling urgency. I couldn't put Trick Mirror down.
David Sedaris - Humorist, Comedian, AuthorIt's easy to write about things as you wish they were—or as others tell you they must be. It's much harder to think for yourself, with the minimum of self-delusion. It's even harder to achieve at a moment like this, when our thoughts are subject to unprecedented manipulation, monetization, and surveillance. Yet Tolentino has managed to tell many inconvenient truths in Trick Mirror—and I respect her for that.
Zadie Smith - Novelist, Essayist, Short-story writer
