Celebrity: How Entertainers Took Over The World and Why We Need an Exit Strategy - Couverture souple

'This hilarious romp through modern culture by the Guardian columnist highlights the bizarre reach of hollow fame these days... Shudder-inducingly funny' Big Issue

'So funny, and so sharp' New Statesman

Do you ever wonder why celebrities work for the United Nations? Why entertainers are on television advocating dubious 'religions'? Or why Angelina Jolie advises on the Iraqi reconstruction effort and Jude Law is trying to establish contact with the Taliban?

Then this is the book for you - it is a hilarious, appalling portrait of a world obsessed to the point of lunacy with celebrity, a guide to our times and a classic piece of comic writing. And it might, just might, explain why celebrities think they're qualified to solve problems like Africa, the Middle East and AIDS.

'An excoriating, needle-sharp and superbly funny attack on 'stars' who abuse their fame'' Metro

'Entertaining, and occasionally alarming, little tome about the peculiar evolutionary blip which has meant that people whose sole purpose in life was once to provide us with pictures to cut out of magazines and take with us into the hairdresser, now feel compelled to work for the United Nations, conduct assignations to Iraq and bounce maniacally on Oprah's sofa' Sunday Business Post

"Certainly thought-provoking." (Max Clifford Observer)

"Marina Hyde exposes one of the strangest aspects of contemporary culture: the emergence of often bird-brained celebrities as our new priesthood, dispensing wisdom and performing good works. She skewers a procession of these starry saviours, and does it with an acid wit that will have you laughing out loud more often than is healthy. If you like sharp, funny and super-smart, Marina Hyde is your woman." (Jonathan Freedland)

"She is one of those rare writers who are the same in person as they are on the page, damn good fun. [...] It's a brilliant read, a surreal whistle-stop tour through the rogues' gallery of 21st century celebrities." (Chitra Ramaswamy Scotland on Sunday)

"This hilarious romp through modern culture by the Guardian columnist highlights the bizarre reach of hollow fame these days... Shudder-inducingly funny." (The Big Issue)