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Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything?: How the Famous Sell Us Elixirs of Health, Beauty & Happinessby Timothy CaulfieldISBN: 0807057487 | 2015 | EPUB | 272 pages | 607 KBAn exploration of the effect our celebrity-dominated culture has on our ideas of living the good lifeWhat would happen if an average Joe tried out for American Idol, underwent a professional makeover, endured Gwyneth Paltrow’s “Clean Cleanse,” and followed the outrageous rituals of the rich and famous? Health law policy researcher Timothy Caulfield finds out in this thoroughly unique, engaging, and provocative book about celebrity culture and its iron grip on today’s society.Over the past decade, our perceptions of beauty, health, success, and happiness have become increasingly framed by a popular culture steeped in celebrity influence and ever more disconnected from reality. This isn’t just a hyperbolic assertion. Research tells us that our health decisions and goals are influenced by both celebrity culture and celebrity endorsements, our children’s ambitions are now overwhelmingly governed by the fantasy of fame, and the ideals of beauty and success are mediated through a celebrity-dominated worldview.But while much has been written about the cause of our obsession with the rich and famous, Caulfield argues that not enough has been done to debunk celebrity messages and promises about health, diet, beauty, or the secret to happiness. From the obvious dangers, to body image of super-thin models and actors, or Gwyneth Paltrow’s enthusiastic endorsement of a gluten free-diet for almost everyone, or Jenny McCarthy’s ill-informed claims of the risks associated with vaccines, celebrity opinions have the power to dominate our conversations and outlooks on our lives and ourselves.As marketing and social media bring celebrities and their admirers ever closer, celebrity status and lifestyle has become a seemingly more realistic and obtainable goal. Being famous has become the main ambition of an increasing number of average citizens, above being kind, successful, or loved. The celebrity brand is at once the most desired state of being (modern day royalty!) and one of the most socially problematic.Caulfield provides an entertaining look into the celebrity world, including vivid accounts of his own experiences trying out for American Idol, having his skin resurfaced, and doing the cleanse; interviews with actual celebrities; thought-provoking facts, and a practical and evidence-based reality check on our own celebrity ambitions.Amazon Reviews5.0 out of 5 stars Breaking News: Gwyneth Paltrow is a FlakeBy Katy Lake VINE VOICE on February 17, 2015OK, that’s not breaking news. But Timothy Caulfield’s book with the fantastic title really is. Caulfield completely read my mind about the redoubtably dumb Ms. Paltrow, Goop guru and flake extraordinare. Detoxifying cleanses are crap (so to speak), and all Paltrow presides over is the Cult of Flake.The first and second chapters are available for review on the international edition. They’re a total hoot, but they’re also backed up by something of which Ms. Paltrow is lacking (aside from a measurable IQ): real science.Good work, Mr. Caulfield. I’m waiting on tenterhooks for the finished version.5.0 out of 5 stars Detox Gimmicks…By NYFB on January 5, 2016If nothing convinced you that mother nature has given you liver and kidneys to detox what you consume internally without thinking about detox programs promoted by the least educated individuals in physical health, then this writing may.3.0 out of 5 stars The Cults of Celebrity ExpertiseBy L. King on March 25, 2016A few weeks ago entertainment celebrity Leonardo di Caprio filming in Calgary mistook a natural phenomenon known to most Canadians as a “chinook” wind for global warming. Celebrity Jenny McCarthy tries to warn us about the “dangers” of vaccination. I’m not saying that celebrities should not have a voice. A number of celebrities in the entertainment field have considerable slack time in their schedules to read and do consider the issues. A rare few even have advanced degrees in the field they are discussing. But to be critical, while fame has the ability to attract attention, it is a misleading indicator of expertise.Caulfield begins with the usual suspects of fad diets, anti-aging skin care gimmicks, cosmetic surgery, but here is where the scientific debunking ends and the second half of the book is a well warranted attack on the modern obsession with achieving fame for it’s own sake. Not really for me as I was more interested in the science and implications on social policy.Mostly anecdotal, Caulfield figures that about 4 million Americans, or just over 1% of the population targets themselves for fame as actors, musicians, models and sports figures. About 20,000 actually make it big, and about 8% wind up being occasionally employed in the field, a ridiculously low success rate. A common mantra of many is to have no “plan B” to fall back on, dangerous career advice when the failure rate is so high. He interviews Alison Arngrim, known as child star villain Nellie Oleson on Little House on the Prairie. She likens the pursuit of fame to a gambling addiction where each and every week you are spending the rent. Nor is does fame prove to be be that fulfilling For those who truly love the pursuit of art, music or theatre, by all means go for it, but if you must not for empty dreams of being famous.5.0 out of 5 stars Learn why you great hockey playing child has 1 in 11,000 chance of making the NHLBy Peter Mosier on January 19, 2016Easy reading about a big subject: the many problems with celebrity obsessed culture.