The face of entertainment has changed radically over the last decade—and dangerously so. Stars like Britney, Paris, Lindsay, Amy Winehouse—and their media enablers—have altered what we consider "normal" behavior. According to addiction specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky and business and entertainment expert Dr. S. Mark Young, a high proportion of celebrities suffer from traits associated with clinical narcissism—vanity, exhibitionism, entitlement, exploitativeness—and the rest of us, especially young people, are mirroring what we witness nightly on our TV and computer screens.
A provocative, eye-opening study, The Mirror Effect sounds a timely warning, raising important questions about our changing culture—and provides insights for parents, young people, and anyone who wonders what the cult of celebrity is really doing to America.
One of the most listened-to doctors in America, Dr. Drew Pinsky is a practicing physician who is board certified in internal and addiction medicine. He is the executive producer and host of the hit VH1 reality series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, Celebrity Rehab Presents Sober House, and Sex Rehab with Dr. Drew. On radio he is the host of the nationally syndicated program Loveline. He is the author of Cracked: Putting Broken Lives Together Again and When Painkillers Become Dangerous. Pinsky lives in Southern California with his wife, Susan, and their teenage triplets.
Dr. S. Mark Young heads the entertainment business program at the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business and is the author of five books.
“When it comes to judging celebrities and their behavior, it might be best to take a good look in the mirror.” — New York Post
“Pinsky spells out a theory that stars are predisposed to narcissistic personality disorder long before they become famous….[The Mirror Effect] becomes a psychology lesson with celebrities as examples.” — Wired
“Drew and Mark [talk] about the changing perception of celebrities, the hidden narcissism in all of us, and what parents can do to save their kids from the cult of Miley Cyrus.” — Babble.com
“A compelling and intelligent study of the repercussions of today’s fame-obsessed society.” — Flavorpill.com
“The Mirror Effect is a smooth read.…It stresses the importance of learning empathy, and how to pass that on to impressionable young people.…a how-to guide for social change that promotes individual progress.” — LAist