An insightful book on the influence of celebrity narcissism on the attitude and behavior of the broader culture. Dr. Drew clinically analyzes the professional Hollywood culture and the reality TV celebrities who exhibit behaviors that are praised by the media but indicative of psychological problems that need treatment. The outrageous acting-out that indicates a need for treatment is praised by the celebrity and mainstream media then emulated by those in society who are vulnerable to such behavior by a desire to mirror the actions of the stars they admire or their own psychological fragility.

Drs. Pinsky and Young spend a great part of the book explaining narcissistic behaviors that are healthy and detrimental, personality disorders, factors that might be involved in the development of narcissistic personality disorders, and treatment suggestions. They also highlight the dangers of narcissistic culture on teens and adolescents and advise parents on how to prevent narcissism in their children.

Written in 2009, before the Miley Cyrus meltdown, Dr. Drew was very prophetic about how her life might develop if she did not receive treatment for this condition. He also discusses his objective in creating his own show, Celebrity Rehab to show the human side of the celebrities being treated for addiction and the trauma that often started them down their chaotic and disastrous path. He wanted to provide the knowledge and need for treatment associated with these behaviors that was missing in shows that glorified dysfunctions such as Real World and The Anna Nicole Show. I watched Celebrity Rehab because such treatment interests me and was moved by the story of Dennis Rodman, whom I disliked for his behavior, and in the end was hoping for his recovery and appreciating his humanity. I realized I had been caught up in his persona and forgot the humanity of a person, struggling and hurting on the inside, who was the victim of his own creation.

Until reality TV passes from the landscape, Dr. Drew's book serves as a reminder that there is little real about this edited, produced, and scripted fantasy world and much that is unhealthy in the lives of those who parade across our screens. Until society quits praising and mirroring such dysfunction and seeks a healthy life that brings positive value to others we must try to help those we can escape its downward spiral to self-destruction and prevent others from being seduced by the siren song of uninhibited passion, alcohol and drug abuse, and destructive behaviors into a trap that feeds self-loathing and emptiness. ( )

This is a guy who *knows* celebrities - Loveline, Celebrity Rehab, he's met (and treated) tons of actors, musicians and other famous folks. The book looks at them from another angle - instead of seeing them as privileged and talented and accomplished, we see them as wounded and deficient. Narcissism isn't self-love, it's self-loathing. It's being so cut off from normal feelings that you need constant reassurance and praise from people around you. And when you look at it that way, it makes sense that people who have these feelings would aggressively seek celebrity status.

Being a celebrity has changed a great deal. Stars used to be protected by the studio and careful about their image. Today people become famous for being famous; no talent required. They're famous for being wealthy and not wearing panties when the papparazzi around flashing pictures. They desperately seek fame, are willing to humiliate themselves on national television just to be in the spotlight, and have an enormous sense of entitlement. The scary thing is that this bad behavior is being copied (consciously or unconsciously) by young people to a greater and greater degree. We have unprecedented access to celebs through the internet, gossip tv shows, Twitter and blogs, so their lifestyle seems far more attainable to many people. And when people are thrust into the spotlight for no discernable reason - not because they are a talented actor or skilled at sports - young people in particular believe that they, too, can have this fame and lifestyle.

The book first focuses on what narcissism is - the various traits that make up this disorder and the spectrum of behaviors. It uses current celebrities as examples: Robert Downey, Jr., Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Amy Winehouse, Lindsay Lohan, Miley Cyrus. It also talks about fans and the way we react to celebrity gossip. There is a definite mob mentality at work there. The second part of the book talks about the roots of the disorder. The final part talks about kids today and the ways they are copying this behavior, the damage it can do, and ways - as a parent - to mitigate the damage. I found it a very interesting read, not too dry and technical, but filled with clear examples from current headlines. That might make the book seem dated just a few years down the road, but it's a good read right now. ( )