Trending: How and Why Stuff Gets Popular by Kira Vermond
2020; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 73; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/bcc.2020.0223
ISSN1558-6766
Autores Tópico(s)History of Science and Medicine
ResumoReviewed by: Trending: How and Why Stuff Gets Popular by Kira Vermond Elizabeth Bush Vermond, Kira Trending: How and Why Stuff Gets Popular; illus. by Clayton Hanmer. Owlkids, 2020 [48p] Trade ed. ISBN 978-1-77147-325-5 $17.95 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 4-6 In four short, lively chapters Vermond begins to deconstruct fads and how persons of all ages get caught up in them. First comes the definition of a fad (as opposed to a trend), with its quick life cycle of energy and enthusiasm, followed by backlash, followed by, well, near total abandonment; Crocs, Pokémon Go, and Hula Hoops serve as object lessons current and historical for how the cycle plays out. For the mechanics of how fads spread, Vermond looks at baby names, the adoption of anesthesia, and the stock market crash of 1929. Such “painstakingly crafted” fads as cheese fondue and Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccinos are exemplars of corporate manipulation (supported, often, by spyware and data mining); which then leads into a discussion of malignant fads, such as Nazi propaganda, anti-vaxxing, and even market-disrupting quinoa. The stories of the high-profile fads are entertaining and concise, and sidebars add information on related research and terminology used by social scientists to study fads. Graphic novel–styled chapter openers and cartoon vignettes keep the mood light, and an index and source notes are included for kids who want to crawl further into the weeds for school projects. Copyright © 2020 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
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