Authenticity is a Con:

by Peter York

The idea of authenticity - deliciously vague and as ubiquitous as Starbucks - has hit the spot in almost every sector of 21st-century life. But can we trust the authentic image of Nigel 'man-of-the-people' Farage, Sarah 'hockey mom' Palin or Gwyneth 'inner life' Paltrow? Are punk bands, distressed denim and rustic furniture really as spontaneous as people seem to think? Is bare-brick Shoreditch just one big authenticity scam? From motivational speakers to PR consultants, music entrepreneurs to devoted foodies, bearded hipsters to earnest YouTubers - and, yes, politicians too - 'authentic' has become the buzzword of our age. But, as Peter York has discovered, its meaning has changed and become corrupted: every advertising agency, micro-connoisseur and charlatan going has re-tooled the language of authenticity for our changing market and it is now practically impossible for us to differentiate between authentic and 'authentic'. Drawing on witty anecdotes and analysing various spheres of everyday life, Peter has set out to uncover the truth behind authenticity - the ultimate con of our generation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Cultural

90 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 27, 2014

Reviews

[mia kyria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Incredibly derivative. I'm not saying this to be pretentious. The entire book was explaining, as said by other reviewers, the complete obvious. I was unaware of who the author was and so was excited to read, hoping it would be an interesting take on society, perhaps how authenticity is now a ‘product’ or something philosophical. It was completely dull. Nothing in this book provokes the mind, it genuinely just feels like having a chat with a bloke at the pub that acts as though he’s a philosopher and ‘so deep’ when he’s touching on a completely basic take that has been repeated time and time again. I’m quite disappointed. Oh well! There were a few good points made that I enjoyed, but they were not anything I hadn’t thought about before.

[Andy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won't get that bit of my life back. The author spends most of his time stating the bleeding obvious. I tried really hard, but only managed to get two thirds of the way through it before assigning it to the Life is too Short pile. I was given this as a freebie by the publishers for cocking up the order on another book. At free I still paid too much.

Give it a swerve.

[bks · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book could be shorter! much shorter!!!

[Sophie Flint · Rating 1 out of 5]

Condescending derivative drivel!!! This has to be rage bait, surely? Also remind me to never invite this guy to a party

[Cassie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It made some interesting points, but none were interesting enough for me to remember. The main takeaway I got from this book is the author simply stating the bleak observation that everyone and everything is inauthentic - especially hipsters that live in Shoreditch and read the Guardian.
I felt like I spent the whole book waiting for the Author to get to a point he never eventually found. It felt like quite an extended version of the Facebook rants your mum's friends put on about how no one in their life is really honest - one that could’ve stayed in the drafts.