Hit Makers: The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction

Atlantic senior editor Thompson explores the cognitive and social psychological forces shaping pop culture, revealing common misconceptions about success. For the audiobook, he reads with a convivial tone that makes his keen application of social science to the world of mass entertainment an easy listen. He uses pitch and tone effectively, particularly when recounting his field research, including interviews with people in the music industry and his meetings with a group of book industry power brokers who helped bring Fifty Shades of Grey to bookstores. Thompson comes off as a studious pupil with a bit of a rebel streak. [em]A Penguin Press hardcover. (Feb.) [/em]