You Are What You Watch: How Movies and TV Affect Everything

Pulitzer Prize laureate and data analyst Walt Hickey explores how entertainment significantly shapes our biology, beliefs, identities, and the influence of nations. Anyone who has been moved by a compelling film, dramatic TV series, or a poignant novel knows the profound impact entertainment can have on us. However, many may not realize the tangible effects it can also produce on society, global politics, the economy, and even the future. In his work, "You Are What You Watch," Walter Hickey, once the chief culture writer for the prestigious data platform FiveThirtyEight.com, illustrates just how much our consumption of media influences both individuals and the broader world. Through a combination of thorough research, comprehensive reporting, and an impressive array of 100 data visualizations, Hickey unravels the potent influence of entertainment and culture. From the drop in shark numbers post-"Jaws" to the surge in female participation in archery inspired by "The Hunger Games," his findings are backed by data. Remarkably, statistics reveal that violent movies may correspond to decreased real-world aggression and that Japanese anime and manga helped revive Japan’s economy in the 1980s. Intriguingly, British and American intelligence even sought inspiration from James Bond films. "You Are What You Watch" offers an insightful, detailed exploration of popular entertainment's unexpected power to transform the world.