The American Mirage: How Reality TV Upholds the Myth of Meritocracy

“In this pathbreaking book, Kim shows why understanding American politics requires understanding American society, including seemingly apolitical parts. The American Mirage sets an example of what cutting-edge social science looks like.”—James Druckman, coauthor of Partisan Hostility and American Democracy

“Scholars have long bemoaned the general public’s inattention to political news, a state of affairs that has worsened as the explosion of entertainment media has further crowded out attention to informational media in recent decades. This book examines what scholars have largely overlooked—that entertainment media, especially reality TV, convey political narratives and affect political attitudes. The varied analyses will make scholars reexamine their views, and as an added bonus, the book is a fun read besides.”—Morris P. Fiorina, Stanford University

“A terrific book with important and novel insights on the role of entertainment media in American politics. The American Mirage brings a fresh perspective and an abundance of original evidence to bear on one of the most important features of contemporary politics. A must-read for anyone interested in the political consequences of our changing media environment.”—Martin Gilens, University of California, Los Angeles

“Kim has written a brilliant book that will change how we perceive the scope of political communication. It is careful, insightful, and a joy to read. This book will change not only how we understand political information, but how we understand the way people interpret the world around them as they make political decisions. It is an important push and reframe for disciplines that had previously focused only on news.”—Yanna Krupnikov, coauthor of The Other Divide