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Everyone Loves a Good Train Wreck: Why We Can't Look Away
Why can't we look away?
Whether we admit it or not, we're fascinated by evil. Dark fantasies, morbid curiosities, Schadenfreude: as conventional wisdom has it, these are the symptoms of our wicked side, and we succumb to them at our own peril. But we're still compelled to look whenever we pass a grisly accident on the highway, and there's no slaking our thirst for gory entertainments like horror movies and police procedurals. What makes these spectacles so irresistible?
In Everyone Loves a Good Train Wreck, the scholar Eric G. Wilson sets out to discover the source of our attraction to the gruesome, drawing on the findings of biologists, sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists, philosophers, theologians, and artists. A professor of English literature and a lifelong student of the macabre, Wilson believes there's something nourishing in darkness. "To repress death is to lose the feeling of life," he writes. "A closeness to death discloses our most fertile energies."
His examples are legion and startling in their diversity. Citing everything from elephant graveyards and Susan Sontag's On Photography to the Tiger Woods sex scandal and Steel Magnolias, Wilson finds heartening truths wherever he confronts death. In Everyone Loves a Good Train Wreck, the perverse is never far from the sublime. The result is a powerful and delightfully provocative defense of what it means to be human—for better and for worse.
Whether we admit it or not, we're fascinated by evil. Dark fantasies, morbid curiosities, Schadenfreude: as conventional wisdom has it, these are the symptoms of our wicked side, and we succumb to them at our own peril. But we're still compelled to look whenever we pass a grisly accident on the highway, and there's no slaking our thirst for gory entertainments like horror movies and police procedurals. What makes these spectacles so irresistible?
In Everyone Loves a Good Train Wreck, the scholar Eric G. Wilson sets out to discover the source of our attraction to the gruesome, drawing on the findings of biologists, sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists, philosophers, theologians, and artists. A professor of English literature and a lifelong student of the macabre, Wilson believes there's something nourishing in darkness. "To repress death is to lose the feeling of life," he writes. "A closeness to death discloses our most fertile energies."
His examples are legion and startling in their diversity. Citing everything from elephant graveyards and Susan Sontag's On Photography to the Tiger Woods sex scandal and Steel Magnolias, Wilson finds heartening truths wherever he confronts death. In Everyone Loves a Good Train Wreck, the perverse is never far from the sublime. The result is a powerful and delightfully provocative defense of what it means to be human—for better and for worse.
224 pages, Paperback
First published February 14, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
March 4, 2012
Everyone loves a good train wreck, except when it's this book. I picked up this book on a whim, but I couldn't force myself to finish it. The premise interested me, but I found the book to be more of a rationalization of the author's love for horror films and the macabre in general than a study of why people are drawn to the dark. To be fair, the author is open about this book being more of a collection of thoughts and essays searching to understand and perhaps rationalize his own obsession with horror, but that is hardly what the dust jacket indicates.
I was underwhelmed by his theories of why people in general are fascinated with horror films, serial killers and the like, and found the book to be full of navel-gazing and theories cobbled together from sources which would be likely to support the author's thinking. Perhaps if this had been billed as more of a memoir, I would have been less put off by the constant self-reflection and narrative, but it's doubtful.
I was underwhelmed by his theories of why people in general are fascinated with horror films, serial killers and the like, and found the book to be full of navel-gazing and theories cobbled together from sources which would be likely to support the author's thinking. Perhaps if this had been billed as more of a memoir, I would have been less put off by the constant self-reflection and narrative, but it's doubtful.
August 17, 2013
I REALLY wanted to like this book, written about why people feel the need to watch violence, partake in violent play, observe the morbidity of the world. But unfortunately each of the chapters were spent as a prologue to some great idea, as though the author hadn't quite decided what he wanted to write about. A shame, because once in a while there were MOMENTS that showed an actual insight into human behaviour.
February 10, 2021
Everyone loves a good train wreck – Why we can’t look away – Eric G. Wilson
An interesting non-fiction read about our cultural obsession with doom, gloom and gore. I enjoyed reading this book and finished it in a rather short period of time but I might have had my expectations way too high. I got a few wicked recommendations about movies and books and information about some pretty interesting individuals but that was about it. That is not to say that the book wasn't information-packed or that it was poorly written. It just means that I read a book which focused on a topic I am already informed about. I won't dwell too much on it. It was short, fun and I got excited whenever I understood a horror reference.
Here are two quotes I really liked;
Page 43; “Though we hate the shadow, we secretly desire it, because in our deepest recesses we actually yearn for ruin. We might profess pristine piety, but we really have sympathy for the devil. This is an obvious point – that we all have a dark side, a perverse imp. However, most of us deny it, trying to convince ourselves, and others, that our intentions are always righteous, our thoughts preeminently pure. And so we set up a game that seems silly, though in fact it’s dead serious: don’t let the right hand, bearing the torch of righteousness, know what the left hand, the sinister appendage is doing. Such self-delusion ensures that we will remain divided against ourselves – reason versus the shadow, light against darkness – and moreover that the more nefarious side, because repressed to a place beyond awareness, will persist, unchecked, in its sowing of discord.”
Page 171; “…For her, fascination with the unwholesome is “ultimately life-affirming”. We are more alive when we face what we can’t quite understand – on edge and required to think beyond our habits. This is the value of travelling in the dark: there is always risk, but it provokes unprecedented acuteness. This is the abiding value of melancholy, and, sometimes, of depression, if the depression isn’t too debilitating or suicidal. Some will of course call melancholy and depression harmfully morbid, emotions that sever us from health and love and life. But the morbidity of sorrow – not cultivated sorrow, but that which comes inevitably – is often a productive sluggishness, a time when the soul slows down, too weary to go on, and takes stock of where it’s been and where it’s going. During these gloomy pauses, we often discover parts of ourselves we never knew we possessed, talents that, properly activated, enrich our lives. Don’t stay in the sun too long. Keep a scull on your desk. Or, just when the winter slush dissolves and there is one daffodil, look around for a rugged cross.”
An interesting non-fiction read about our cultural obsession with doom, gloom and gore. I enjoyed reading this book and finished it in a rather short period of time but I might have had my expectations way too high. I got a few wicked recommendations about movies and books and information about some pretty interesting individuals but that was about it. That is not to say that the book wasn't information-packed or that it was poorly written. It just means that I read a book which focused on a topic I am already informed about. I won't dwell too much on it. It was short, fun and I got excited whenever I understood a horror reference.
Here are two quotes I really liked;
Page 43; “Though we hate the shadow, we secretly desire it, because in our deepest recesses we actually yearn for ruin. We might profess pristine piety, but we really have sympathy for the devil. This is an obvious point – that we all have a dark side, a perverse imp. However, most of us deny it, trying to convince ourselves, and others, that our intentions are always righteous, our thoughts preeminently pure. And so we set up a game that seems silly, though in fact it’s dead serious: don’t let the right hand, bearing the torch of righteousness, know what the left hand, the sinister appendage is doing. Such self-delusion ensures that we will remain divided against ourselves – reason versus the shadow, light against darkness – and moreover that the more nefarious side, because repressed to a place beyond awareness, will persist, unchecked, in its sowing of discord.”
Page 171; “…For her, fascination with the unwholesome is “ultimately life-affirming”. We are more alive when we face what we can’t quite understand – on edge and required to think beyond our habits. This is the value of travelling in the dark: there is always risk, but it provokes unprecedented acuteness. This is the abiding value of melancholy, and, sometimes, of depression, if the depression isn’t too debilitating or suicidal. Some will of course call melancholy and depression harmfully morbid, emotions that sever us from health and love and life. But the morbidity of sorrow – not cultivated sorrow, but that which comes inevitably – is often a productive sluggishness, a time when the soul slows down, too weary to go on, and takes stock of where it’s been and where it’s going. During these gloomy pauses, we often discover parts of ourselves we never knew we possessed, talents that, properly activated, enrich our lives. Don’t stay in the sun too long. Keep a scull on your desk. Or, just when the winter slush dissolves and there is one daffodil, look around for a rugged cross.”
April 5, 2013
I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway so I feel a bit obligated to write a review. Unfortunately, it will not be a very positive review.
The author spends most of this book justifying his own interest in the macabre. This feeling of "justification" arises throughout the book, making me feel like the author is uncomfortable with himself. This type of self-assessment could be successful as a memoir, exploring the author's own bouts with bipolar disorder and his interest in horror movies, etc. However, this book is advertised as an explanation for all humans' interests in the macabre, not just the inner thoughts and justifications for the author's behavior.
Some interesting ideas are presented in this book. I did learn some new things. However, this book suffers from disorganization. Multiple chapters cover one topic, then jump to a new topic with little transition.
Overall, I do not recommend this book.
The author spends most of this book justifying his own interest in the macabre. This feeling of "justification" arises throughout the book, making me feel like the author is uncomfortable with himself. This type of self-assessment could be successful as a memoir, exploring the author's own bouts with bipolar disorder and his interest in horror movies, etc. However, this book is advertised as an explanation for all humans' interests in the macabre, not just the inner thoughts and justifications for the author's behavior.
Some interesting ideas are presented in this book. I did learn some new things. However, this book suffers from disorganization. Multiple chapters cover one topic, then jump to a new topic with little transition.
Overall, I do not recommend this book.
July 30, 2012
Disappointing. Find a copy at the library and look through the notes in the back to find his research materials and then read those instead.
March 5, 2015
Wilson openly admits early in the book that he is over-generalizing, but he has to write the book because he is contracted to do so. The content is largely based on why he is drawn to macabre. Notwithstanding the limited scientific research, the book provides an interesting look into why we can't look away from a car wreck and why we seek out the viewing of violence. However, his writing style and approach is exhausting to read.
I felt like I was at a Hollywood party where the person I was speaking with spent the entire conversation listing every famous person he knew. He didn't work it into the conversation, he just listed them so that I would be very impressed. Except in the book, Wilson lists every book he has read and quotes anyone and anything that may appear intellectual. The references did little to enhance the reading and in many cases detracted or misdirected away from the point or conclusion. His prose was extremely verbose and unnecessarily poetic. He chose to find complicated ways to make simple statements.
Though Wilson appeared open-minded to many theories and concepts on violence in society, he has chosen to be have very strong and negative opinions regarding religious people. He openly insults Christianity and believes religious people are narrow-minded and self-righteous, yet his comments seem to be a little bit of both as well. Let me be clear, he didn't have anything negative about Muslims, and I am sure he would defend their actions and behaviors to the end, but it is completely acceptable to make these statements about Christians because it conforms with the leftest ideals of our mainstream media and academia. Though generalizations can be helpful and at times useful, he was overly harsh and critical when it did nothing to further his book's theme.
It is a short read that feels like a very long read.
I felt like I was at a Hollywood party where the person I was speaking with spent the entire conversation listing every famous person he knew. He didn't work it into the conversation, he just listed them so that I would be very impressed. Except in the book, Wilson lists every book he has read and quotes anyone and anything that may appear intellectual. The references did little to enhance the reading and in many cases detracted or misdirected away from the point or conclusion. His prose was extremely verbose and unnecessarily poetic. He chose to find complicated ways to make simple statements.
Though Wilson appeared open-minded to many theories and concepts on violence in society, he has chosen to be have very strong and negative opinions regarding religious people. He openly insults Christianity and believes religious people are narrow-minded and self-righteous, yet his comments seem to be a little bit of both as well. Let me be clear, he didn't have anything negative about Muslims, and I am sure he would defend their actions and behaviors to the end, but it is completely acceptable to make these statements about Christians because it conforms with the leftest ideals of our mainstream media and academia. Though generalizations can be helpful and at times useful, he was overly harsh and critical when it did nothing to further his book's theme.
It is a short read that feels like a very long read.
October 18, 2012
Full disclosure: I'm one of the morbid people Wilson spoke to as he researched the book. I'm not sure he entirely knew how to take my perky goth sensibilities, but I do get a couple of paragraphs.
Everyone Loves a Good Train Wreck reads like a really fascinating blog. The chapters are extremely short, only a handful of pages each, and tend to limit themselves to a single idea, although the ideas do reflect back from one chapter to the next. It makes for a quick read, which doesn't suit the depth of the ideas involved. Which is where the blog reference comes in: if you were reading this book a chapter a day on the web, you would take time between chapters to stop and consider. Instead, it's all to easy to whip through the book and then blame it for a lack of depth -- when in fact, it's a lack of reader participation that's bugging you.
My favorite chapters were those which focused on people who live their morbid curiosity full-out: the collector of serial killer items, Joe Coleman in his Odditorium. Wilson's own morbid curiosity -- inspired and inflamed by bipolar disease -- is somewhat dwarfed in comparison, but there's hope for him yet. Admitting you have morbid curiosity is the first step to claiming it and climbing inside it.
Everyone Loves a Good Train Wreck reads like a really fascinating blog. The chapters are extremely short, only a handful of pages each, and tend to limit themselves to a single idea, although the ideas do reflect back from one chapter to the next. It makes for a quick read, which doesn't suit the depth of the ideas involved. Which is where the blog reference comes in: if you were reading this book a chapter a day on the web, you would take time between chapters to stop and consider. Instead, it's all to easy to whip through the book and then blame it for a lack of depth -- when in fact, it's a lack of reader participation that's bugging you.
My favorite chapters were those which focused on people who live their morbid curiosity full-out: the collector of serial killer items, Joe Coleman in his Odditorium. Wilson's own morbid curiosity -- inspired and inflamed by bipolar disease -- is somewhat dwarfed in comparison, but there's hope for him yet. Admitting you have morbid curiosity is the first step to claiming it and climbing inside it.
September 11, 2013
Did not enjoy this book as much as I had hoped. Disagreed with a lot of the author's theories and his writing wasn't compelling enough to hold my interest. I just kept hoping it would be finished soon.
June 14, 2013
A sometimes cheeky, frequently provocative and thoughtful exploration of our morbid curiosity, fascination with evil, and peculiar attraction to the dark, macabre, and gruesome in life.
October 19, 2012
I was very intrigued by the title and book jacket, but the writing itself was awful. Fantastic premise, but the book was dull and the author comes across as a pompous ass.
May 3, 2022
This was bad. The author just tries to rationalize his love for horror and misses very obvious reasons why people like the macabre. He mentions it very briefly, but as humans we’re just naturally very curious. Of course we’re gonna wanna know what happened or what bad thing happened or what spooky thing happens. But all of that to be sad this was a really tough read and I’m glad I didn’t spend money on it and got it from the library
December 25, 2025
The title "Everyone Loves A Good Train Wreck" uses a powerful metaphor [comparison] to describe humanity's universal attraction to disaster and morbidity. A train wreck is a dramatic collision where something large, powerful, and supposedly safe suddenly goes catastrophically wrong in full view of everyone. The title captures the book's central thesis: despite modern society's efforts to hide death, suffering, and destruction, we are all magnetically drawn to witnessing disaster and morbid events. The phrase "everyone loves" is deliberately provocative [meant to provoke reaction], suggesting this attraction is not shameful or unusual, but a completely normal, perhaps even essential, human characteristic. By calling it something we "love," Wilson normalizes morbid curiosity, treating it not as a perverse [twisted or corrupt] quirk but as a fundamental part of human nature worth exploring and understanding.
"Everyone Loves A Good Train Wreck: Why We Can't Look Away From Disaster" is a philosophical and psychological exploration of why humans are fascinated by death, suffering, destruction, and morbidity. Written by Eric G. Wilson, an English professor and author of several books on melancholy and dark subjects, this book combines personal memoir [a written account of someone's life experiences], cultural history, psychology, biology, and literary analysis to investigate our deep attraction to the macabre [gruesome or horrible]. The book begins with Wilson's own experience watching the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on live television, unable to turn away despite his wife repeatedly asking him to stop. From this starting point, he explores why we rubberneck at car accidents, watch horror films, attend dark tourism sites [tourist destinations centered around death or tragedy], and why children are drawn to scary stories. The book is not a condemnation of these impulses but rather a thoughtful investigation into why morbid curiosity might be essential to human health, morality, and understanding of life itself.
Strengths of the Book:
Broad, Rigorous, and Multidisciplinary
Wilson draws from psychology, biology, anthropology, philosophy, theology, history, and art to explain morbid curiosity. He presents multiple theories without forcing a single explanation, giving the book intellectual depth and balance.
Personal Yet Universal
By grounding the analysis in his own experiences with death, trauma, and fascination with darkness, Wilson makes complex ideas emotionally relatable while expanding them into broader insights about human nature.
Normalizes Morbid Curiosity
Rather than treating morbid interest as pathological, Wilson frames it as a natural and sometimes healthy human impulse tied to empathy, imagination, and confronting mortality. This perspective is reassuring and liberating.
Strong Use of Psychology, Especially Jung
His discussion of Jung’s “shadow” offers a compelling explanation for why people are drawn to dark themes, suggesting that engaging with them can lead to psychological integration rather than repression.
Historically and Culturally Informed
Wilson shows how modern societies hide death, which may intensify morbid curiosity. He treats dark art, horror, and tragedy as meaningful cultural expressions, not mere sensationalism.
Ethical Awareness and Clear Writing
The book thoughtfully examines the ethics of witnessing suffering and is written in clear, accessible prose despite its philosophical complexity.
Weaknesses and Limitations:
Overgeneralization and Speculation
Some conclusions rely heavily on Wilson’s personal experience and theoretical speculation rather than firm empirical evidence.
Limited Practical Guidance
The book explains why morbid curiosity exists but offers little advice on how to manage unhealthy forms of it or engage with dark material constructively.
Occasionally Dense and Dated
Certain theoretical sections can be heavy, and the frequent use of 9/11 as a central example may feel dated to modern readers.
If you're interested in philosophy, psychology, or understanding human nature at a deeper level, you'll find this book rewarding. Wilson offers a perspective on morbid curiosity that's not condemning or moralistic but genuinely curious and compassionate. You'll likely find yourself reflecting on your own attractions to dark material and what they might mean about your psychology and spiritual life.
However, if you're looking for a practical self-help guide on managing morbid interests or a definitive scientific explanation of morbid curiosity, you may be disappointed. The book is exploratory and philosophical rather than prescriptive [giving specific instructions]
My rating:4/5
"Everyone Loves A Good Train Wreck: Why We Can't Look Away From Disaster" is a philosophical and psychological exploration of why humans are fascinated by death, suffering, destruction, and morbidity. Written by Eric G. Wilson, an English professor and author of several books on melancholy and dark subjects, this book combines personal memoir [a written account of someone's life experiences], cultural history, psychology, biology, and literary analysis to investigate our deep attraction to the macabre [gruesome or horrible]. The book begins with Wilson's own experience watching the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on live television, unable to turn away despite his wife repeatedly asking him to stop. From this starting point, he explores why we rubberneck at car accidents, watch horror films, attend dark tourism sites [tourist destinations centered around death or tragedy], and why children are drawn to scary stories. The book is not a condemnation of these impulses but rather a thoughtful investigation into why morbid curiosity might be essential to human health, morality, and understanding of life itself.
Strengths of the Book:
Broad, Rigorous, and Multidisciplinary
Wilson draws from psychology, biology, anthropology, philosophy, theology, history, and art to explain morbid curiosity. He presents multiple theories without forcing a single explanation, giving the book intellectual depth and balance.
Personal Yet Universal
By grounding the analysis in his own experiences with death, trauma, and fascination with darkness, Wilson makes complex ideas emotionally relatable while expanding them into broader insights about human nature.
Normalizes Morbid Curiosity
Rather than treating morbid interest as pathological, Wilson frames it as a natural and sometimes healthy human impulse tied to empathy, imagination, and confronting mortality. This perspective is reassuring and liberating.
Strong Use of Psychology, Especially Jung
His discussion of Jung’s “shadow” offers a compelling explanation for why people are drawn to dark themes, suggesting that engaging with them can lead to psychological integration rather than repression.
Historically and Culturally Informed
Wilson shows how modern societies hide death, which may intensify morbid curiosity. He treats dark art, horror, and tragedy as meaningful cultural expressions, not mere sensationalism.
Ethical Awareness and Clear Writing
The book thoughtfully examines the ethics of witnessing suffering and is written in clear, accessible prose despite its philosophical complexity.
Weaknesses and Limitations:
Overgeneralization and Speculation
Some conclusions rely heavily on Wilson’s personal experience and theoretical speculation rather than firm empirical evidence.
Limited Practical Guidance
The book explains why morbid curiosity exists but offers little advice on how to manage unhealthy forms of it or engage with dark material constructively.
Occasionally Dense and Dated
Certain theoretical sections can be heavy, and the frequent use of 9/11 as a central example may feel dated to modern readers.
If you're interested in philosophy, psychology, or understanding human nature at a deeper level, you'll find this book rewarding. Wilson offers a perspective on morbid curiosity that's not condemning or moralistic but genuinely curious and compassionate. You'll likely find yourself reflecting on your own attractions to dark material and what they might mean about your psychology and spiritual life.
However, if you're looking for a practical self-help guide on managing morbid interests or a definitive scientific explanation of morbid curiosity, you may be disappointed. The book is exploratory and philosophical rather than prescriptive [giving specific instructions]
My rating:4/5
February 28, 2014
Something went awry when Wilson decided to invoke the word train wrecks. This book isn't about the psychology of train wrecks as used in modern parlance. I, and most others, see a train wreck as an inevitable yet compelling situation, a metaphorical disaster or melodramatic sideshow, that is so fascinating we get sucked into watching in spite of ourselves.
With that in mind, it is curious Wilson more or less analyzes horror movies, dark tourism, and elements of life that seem more associated with morbidity or terror, not a visceral desire to rubberneck at the outrageous.
Hannibal Lecter is not a train wreck. Neither is Dexter. 9/11 was not a train wreck. Daniel Pearl's beheading was not a train wreck. Serial killers are not train wrecks. They are elements that invoke horror and terror (and the author's dialogue with Joyce Carol Oates on the topic of the serial killer had so little bearing on either the title or the actual topic of the book that I wonder what was really happening). A train wreck is when your ex-wife shows up drunk at your wedding to your second wife, strips naked and takes a dump on the cake and everyone in the reception hall is shocked, SHOCKED, but cannot look away long enough to call the police.
The psychological impulses that cause us to watch grue videos on Documenting Reality, that cause us to watch the news for hours during terrorism attacks and natural disasters, are not the same impulses that cause us to watch the comments blow up on a particularly histrionic feminist website.
So yeah, the whole premise was a mess, but since elements of it were entertaining, I give it two stars.
With that in mind, it is curious Wilson more or less analyzes horror movies, dark tourism, and elements of life that seem more associated with morbidity or terror, not a visceral desire to rubberneck at the outrageous.
Hannibal Lecter is not a train wreck. Neither is Dexter. 9/11 was not a train wreck. Daniel Pearl's beheading was not a train wreck. Serial killers are not train wrecks. They are elements that invoke horror and terror (and the author's dialogue with Joyce Carol Oates on the topic of the serial killer had so little bearing on either the title or the actual topic of the book that I wonder what was really happening). A train wreck is when your ex-wife shows up drunk at your wedding to your second wife, strips naked and takes a dump on the cake and everyone in the reception hall is shocked, SHOCKED, but cannot look away long enough to call the police.
The psychological impulses that cause us to watch grue videos on Documenting Reality, that cause us to watch the news for hours during terrorism attacks and natural disasters, are not the same impulses that cause us to watch the comments blow up on a particularly histrionic feminist website.
So yeah, the whole premise was a mess, but since elements of it were entertaining, I give it two stars.
September 22, 2012
I really expected more out of this book, according to the blurb on the inside cover "Eric G. Wilson sets out to discover the source of our attraction to the caustic, drawing on the findings of biologists, sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists, philosophers, theologians, and artists." Sounds intriguing right? Well, although the author brings up a few theories for why people are attracted to the macabre, in my opinion he doesn't do a good job defending or supporting any of them. He is content to throw out theories espoused by different people or groups and not back them up with psychology, biology, or much of any of the other categories mentioned in the blurb.
Yes, there are some interesting stories about art, or people with morbid tendencies, but these are short and don't delve too deep into the reasons behind these tendencies. The book itself is short, only 190 pages, with most chapters being about 1-3 pages long and with blank space in between the chapters. In short, I would look to another book, documentary, or research to answer any questions a reader might have about why people are attracted to the horror in life. Personally, I think I might be more attracted to the memoir the author has written, since I seem to find his supporting evidence concerning particular arguments lacking.
Yes, there are some interesting stories about art, or people with morbid tendencies, but these are short and don't delve too deep into the reasons behind these tendencies. The book itself is short, only 190 pages, with most chapters being about 1-3 pages long and with blank space in between the chapters. In short, I would look to another book, documentary, or research to answer any questions a reader might have about why people are attracted to the horror in life. Personally, I think I might be more attracted to the memoir the author has written, since I seem to find his supporting evidence concerning particular arguments lacking.
April 21, 2012
The title of this book pretty much sums it up. The book asks: Why are we so fascinated by evil, death, scandal, and other dark parts of life? What does this say about human nature? To answer these questions, Wilson consults biologists, sociologists, and psychologists, and also relates stories and examples from his own experience. He shares several different theories. The traditional idea is that we all have a good side and a bad side; horror movies and gossip allow us to indulge our bad sides in (relatively) harmless ways. Wilson, however, concludes that there is value in the darkness itself, because without it goodness has no meaning.
I just couldn't get into this book. The subject is really interesting, but it jumps around too much for me. It seems like Wilson is just randomly listing thoughts, with info from other sources thrown around to emphasize his points. There are a few good ideas, but a lot of it is repetitive. It wasn't a total waste of time, but I don't think I'll be recommending it to anyone.
I just couldn't get into this book. The subject is really interesting, but it jumps around too much for me. It seems like Wilson is just randomly listing thoughts, with info from other sources thrown around to emphasize his points. There are a few good ideas, but a lot of it is repetitive. It wasn't a total waste of time, but I don't think I'll be recommending it to anyone.
April 28, 2012
this must be why I don't go to Wake Forest. oo, catty.
a fairly interesting essay on why the author won't make excuses anymore for rubber-necking. as a reader who picked it up expecting more train wrecks . . . well, at least now I have sound psychological reasons for wanting to read about them.
somehow I don't feel any better.
a fairly interesting essay on why the author won't make excuses anymore for rubber-necking. as a reader who picked it up expecting more train wrecks . . . well, at least now I have sound psychological reasons for wanting to read about them.
somehow I don't feel any better.
April 30, 2013
This book is made up of of many very short chapters (almost like mini-essays) that contain more philosophic musings than academic/data-driven insights. It's a very light book about a very heavy topic; this isn't a bad thing, but not quite what I expected.
July 16, 2018
This book had some good things to say about why we are often drawn to the morbid.
I've always had a fascination with horror movies and books, and I think it's safe to say that I sometimes have a morbid sense of humor. Several years ago, I began to be drawn to all things "skully." I have skull jewelry, skull shirts, skull paintings and sculptures, skull windchimes, and even a small skeleton (wearing a skull shirt, of course) hanging from our living room curtain rod.
My mother-in-law finally asked me, "What's up with the skulls?" A legitimate question and one I hadn't really thought about before—or at least I thought I hadn't. I must have because I had an immediate answer: "It reminds me of my own mortality and that I should live my life and have fun. Because no one lives forever."
So yeah, I definitely got what this author was saying about our fascination with the morbid. He also debunked that silly argument about how violent video games, movies, books, music lyrics, what have you, cause an increase in violence in real life. I've never bought that argument and I liked this line: "Who would say that game shows lead to greed or that representations of charity create a more generous world?" As I said above, I've loved the horror genre since I was a kid, and I have yet to go on a murderous rampage.
Where this book went off the rails for me was when things turned religious. There were a few short chapters about Christian passion plays and the current penchant for "the bloodier the better." He seemed to get something out of this and perhaps if I were religious, I would, too. But I'm not so I don't.
Not a bad read and there are some interesting thoughts here, but nothing earth-shattering or life-changing.
I've always had a fascination with horror movies and books, and I think it's safe to say that I sometimes have a morbid sense of humor. Several years ago, I began to be drawn to all things "skully." I have skull jewelry, skull shirts, skull paintings and sculptures, skull windchimes, and even a small skeleton (wearing a skull shirt, of course) hanging from our living room curtain rod.
My mother-in-law finally asked me, "What's up with the skulls?" A legitimate question and one I hadn't really thought about before—or at least I thought I hadn't. I must have because I had an immediate answer: "It reminds me of my own mortality and that I should live my life and have fun. Because no one lives forever."
So yeah, I definitely got what this author was saying about our fascination with the morbid. He also debunked that silly argument about how violent video games, movies, books, music lyrics, what have you, cause an increase in violence in real life. I've never bought that argument and I liked this line: "Who would say that game shows lead to greed or that representations of charity create a more generous world?" As I said above, I've loved the horror genre since I was a kid, and I have yet to go on a murderous rampage.
Where this book went off the rails for me was when things turned religious. There were a few short chapters about Christian passion plays and the current penchant for "the bloodier the better." He seemed to get something out of this and perhaps if I were religious, I would, too. But I'm not so I don't.
Not a bad read and there are some interesting thoughts here, but nothing earth-shattering or life-changing.
January 21, 2019
More a philosophical musing
I had expected this to be an exploration of morbid curiosity from various angles, providing facts and insights to the purpose of it. The way the book is broken up into tiny sections (not chapters, just sections of 1-3 pages) undermined any ability to mount more significant conclusions. That being said, it does have re-reading value as it gives one a lot to think about in terms of differentiating between a cheap thrill and meditation on what matters most.
I had expected this to be an exploration of morbid curiosity from various angles, providing facts and insights to the purpose of it. The way the book is broken up into tiny sections (not chapters, just sections of 1-3 pages) undermined any ability to mount more significant conclusions. That being said, it does have re-reading value as it gives one a lot to think about in terms of differentiating between a cheap thrill and meditation on what matters most.
March 25, 2017
The premise and topic of this book is rather interesting. However, it is a one-man exploration rather than a well-formed argument / research and this shows. Although fun to read, I personally felt it missed structure and direction. It's like watching a detective with a group of people, where you pause the movie after someone is killed, discuss who could have done it, but then never bother to watch the conclusion.
3 stars, .Good premise, but sadly falls flat and rambles on shortly after.
3 stars, .Good premise, but sadly falls flat and rambles on shortly after.
December 2, 2020
DNF at page 98.
Seen as though this book has been sat on my bookshelf for around 7 years, I thought I best give it a go.
I tried my best but just couldn’t get into it. It’s like a jumble of small threads of thought the author has had with a line from another author or paper thrown in. It doesn’t go into anymore depth than that so feels like the author is saying the same thing over and over, whilst using different examples
DNF 1 star *
Seen as though this book has been sat on my bookshelf for around 7 years, I thought I best give it a go.
I tried my best but just couldn’t get into it. It’s like a jumble of small threads of thought the author has had with a line from another author or paper thrown in. It doesn’t go into anymore depth than that so feels like the author is saying the same thing over and over, whilst using different examples
DNF 1 star *
June 4, 2022
Having read the book over nine years ago, I hesitate to review "Everyone Loves a Good Train Wreck". But I will say this much: in that short time, the book may have become a bit dated. After all, our appetite for "train wrecks" might not be so strong these days--there's a new wreck every day, it seems. And it's not unreasonable to wonder if the next one will happen in our own backyard. For that matter, a train wreck did happen (and is still happening) in all our backyards: Covid.
June 4, 2019
This book made a lot of feelings come to light. Dred, uncomfortableness, and intrigue just to name a few.
Wilson's look at people's morbid curiosities was a deeply educational read while also failing to be boring. He took a subject that could have been dripping in gaze and made the reader stand back and question without judgment. Quite the hard task.
Wilson's look at people's morbid curiosities was a deeply educational read while also failing to be boring. He took a subject that could have been dripping in gaze and made the reader stand back and question without judgment. Quite the hard task.
May 2, 2020
As the author said, THIS WAS A LONG ESSAY. I got used to the author’s narrative after a while, and really liked when he opened up a little bit more. Some passages were really excitingly informative - about Jesus or 9/11, others I just read and found boring or did not have the desire to research more.
April 17, 2019
Read it as part of my research for my upcoming book. I was impressed with the way Wilson expresses his conclusions, all logic consequences of the previous ones. It's a light reading about one of the heaviest topics there are, and it can't be any other way. Loved it.
March 20, 2020
Enjoyed links to pop culture but some points meh. Bits of book were extremely americanised and focused on specific American drama. Interesting to read about difference in real horror and feelings of gratitude and then the subsequent sensationalisation and catharsis in horror.
August 7, 2020
*DNF*
I had high hopes given the title and quick glance at the inside cover and reviews on the back. I've had this book for months but I just keep picking it up and putting it back down. I'm finally giving up and returning this to the library.
I had high hopes given the title and quick glance at the inside cover and reviews on the back. I've had this book for months but I just keep picking it up and putting it back down. I'm finally giving up and returning this to the library.
January 25, 2021
I'm torn. In part I really enjoyed the book, as someone who loves dark and taboo stories it gave me interesting insight into that part of my mind. But on the whole the book meandered and I got such a snobbish vibe from some of it. So interesting premise, poor execution.
October 21, 2024
What a shame! The book has a lot of good ideas, but then doesn't do anything with them. The title of the book says "why we can't look away", but that question isn't really answered. You can learn a couple of interesting facts from it, but unfortunately, that's it
December 31, 2017
Rather underwhelming, but a well-composed quick read.
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