The Kim Kardashian Principle: Why Shameless Sells

by Jeetendr Sehdev

In this New York Times bestselling sensation, media personality and the world's leading authority on celebrity branding Jeetendr Sehdev inspires people everywhere to learn from the way celebrities engage their fan bases.

'One of the most influential books of the year' Michael Levin, Huffington Post
'The most buzzed about business book of the year!' Forbes
'Everything that a PR or spin doctor has traditionally advised: do the opposite' The Times
'The best in the business' Variety
'The most relevant voice of the social media era' Harper's Bazaar

*One of Bustle's 20 Best Nonfiction Books*

In the space of five years, Jeetendr Sehdev has shaken up the world of entertainment by revealing how social media stars generate more obsession than the Hollywood A-list. What can he teach us about making our own ideas, products and services break through?

Jeetendr shows why successful images today - the most famous being Kim Kardashian - are not photoshopped to perfection, but flawed, vulnerable, and in-your-face. This total transparency generates a level of authenticity that traditional marketing tactics just can't touch.

From YouTube sensations like Pew Die Pie to taxi-hailing app Uber, The Kim Kardashian Principle reveals the people, products and brands that do it best. After all, in a world where a big booty can break the internet, self-obsession is a must-have. No posturing, no apologies, and no shying away from the spotlight.

The Kim Kardashian Principle by Jeetendr Sehdev is a fresh, provocative and eye-opening guide to understanding why only the boldest and baddest ideas will survive - and how to make sure yours is one of them.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business, Self Help

256 pages, Hardcover

Published March 21, 2017

About the author

Jeetendr Sehdev is a global media personality, the world's leading celebrity expert, and a New York Times bestselling author. Described by Extra as 'the love child of TMZ and The Economist' and Harper's Bazaar as 'the most relevant voice of the social media era', he has become one of the most prominent figures in celebrity news.

Having been bitten by the LA bug on a family vacation at the age of ten, Jeetendr returned home to his British private school (albeit kicking and screaming) but was determined to break free and make his way back to The City of Angels. After graduating from Oxford University, he headed to Harvard University to get 3000 miles closer to Hollywood.

Jeetendr's talent for presenting and his unique perspective on the world of entertainment quickly got him noticed by TV producers and he became a familiar face on shows like Access Hollywood, Today, and E! News, generating headline-grabbing news from the lack of diversity at The Oscars to Justin Bieber's comeback. In 2014, Jeetendr shook up the world of entertainment by revealing how social media stars generate more obsession than the Hollywood A-list. His perspective went viral and the world of entertainment was forever changed.

From Vogue to GQ to L'Officiel, Jeetendr has graced the pages of numerous fashion and lifestyle magazines. He has also written numerous opinion pieces for the likes of The Hollywood Reporter and Women's Wear Daily, his commentary has filled thousands of publications from the New York Times to the Daily Mail to TMZ and more. Jeetendr's first book, "The Kim Kardashian Principle" the part memoir, part self-help guide has become an instant New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Los Angeles Times bestseller. Michael Levin at The Huffington Post names it one of the most influential books of the year. In 2019, Jeetendr was named Esquire's Influencer Of The Year.

Jeetendr works alongside the United Nations to help raise awareness and promote efforts to combat modern-day slavery. He is also an avid supporter of the He for She Campaign - the United Nations global solidarity movement for gender equality. He is a dual British and American national, who lives in Los Angeles.

Reviews

[Ben Kellogg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! One of the most enjoyable books I've read this year.

As a communications consultant representing some of the biggest names in technology and ideas, I personally found The Kim Kardashian Principle to be incredibly insightful and entertaining. Jeetendr Sehdev has put his finger on an evolving trend in marketing and communications that I haven’t heard anyone really do before. Namely, there is an old model of communicating to the general public: PR reps come along and tell their clients what to say. Sehdev invites his readers to understand the new way of doing things, led by companies like Thinx, Carol's Daughter and Equinox, who are taking their story into their own hands by being authentic.

Although I happen to not be the biggest KK fan (and perhaps not the biggest fan of the title of this book tbh), I would recommend this book to anyone in the marketing/PR space, anyone who owns a business, and anyone who wants to learn more about how to be their best selves.

[Syieve Locklair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contrary to popular belief based on the title, this book is no where near what people think it is about. It's not about Kimmy K, but about marketing techniques for today (celebrities, brands, influencers, ordinary people) -- how Kim K uses the techniques to her advantage to further extend her popularity and fame. Good tips to ponder, techniques to consider, and strategies to execute....he even explains how some popular happens went down and how they could have had better outcomes by utilizing certain strategies...many of which Kim seems to use.

[Roxanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Goodreads win review. Well this book is about why shameless sells and how to do it. To put in a nutshell every untalented person in the world can become famous for nothing. If I could think of something I would try it myself.

[Barrie Moskowitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeetendr Sehdev, ultimate branding authority, gives the ideal recipe to the perfect selfie in his bestseller titled “The Kim Kardashian Principle” Jeetendr explains the SELFIE as six principles that help maximize ourselves and our products as true brands. “The Kim Kardashian Principle” teaches us how to embrace our most authentic selves and actually learn to capitalize from our flaws. In today’s world consumers want what is real and Jeetendr explains it is better “to be overexposed than edited.” As a business person who is constantly exposed to a wide range of both personal and commercial brands, “The Kim Kardashian Principle” has given me a new perspective on brand strategy. Jeetendr has a great sense of humor. In addition to being full of great lessons on brand strategy, reading about Jeetendr's diverse experiences also made this book a fast and enjoyable read.

[Mandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kim Kardashian HERSELF just POSTED THIS BOOK on her social media and is reading it!!!

I wanted to read this book the moment I heard about it. Loved every page. It's hard to describe but it profiles a lot of strong women and I loved that. And for a good looking guy like Jeetendr, I love the fact that he advocates for us women to embrace our flaws and not feel the need to be perfect.

Don't miss this and recommending wholeheartedly!

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw Jeetendr present his book. He's incisive and brazen, and has a real eye for pop culture. His boo is definitely provocative, but if you're in the crowd of people who don't understand how someone can be famous for being famous, this book will help answer that question.

Mandatory reading for marketeers who are interested in influencers and celebrity endorsement, strongly recommended for everybody else.

Written in a conversational style. Large print. Good for a long haul.

[Matty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I give this six stars?! The Kim Kardashian Principle totally blew me away and I'm not gonna lie my expectations were high on this one... The book is essentially a manifesto for championing yourself, your uniqueness, and not being afraid of what other people think of you. I found the message so empowering and real.

The books starts off with Jeetendr telling his personal story of how he's revolutionized the world of celebrity. It's pretty fascinating (and funny) stuff, and just really impressive. Jeetendr comes across as someone who is determined and knows exactly what he wants which I found very appealing. The book then quickly moves into the S.E.L.F.I.E. framework and Jeetendr's journey through Hollywood, what he learned along the way and how we need to start thinking differently in six different ways in order to win.

Let me just say this. Some of his personal stories in Hollywood alone are enough reason to read the book... This guy doesn't pull punches and it's priceless.

At the end of the day, everything about this book is unique and special - from the title, to the illustrations inside the book to the premise of the book. The Kim Kardashian Principle is incredibly enjoyable, well researched, and entertaining. And of course, incredibly inspiring. I wish other books had so much thought and effort put into them.

[Victoria Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Kim Kardashian Principle is truly compelling and I could not help but finish the book in one sitting. Sehdev has tapped into something no other writer has in evaluating and analysing why Kim has become such an Icon. But the book is about so much more than that. His honest, witty and explorative technique convey the fascinating parallel between hers and many other brands both in the business and celebrity world.

I was deeply intrigued by the experiences in Hollywood Jeetendr illustrated and the sometimes shockingly sad facade that is Hollywood. He made no attempt to gloss over this which was refreshing and inspiringly brave in a world where appearing to be pc can sometimes override ones need to express their truth. The most important and alluring facet of a book for me is quite simply how much I want to keep on reading. This books emotive and frank delivery took me on an unforgettable emotional journey I didn't want to end.

[Sandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put this down from the moment I picked it up! Found it thought-provoking, and quite controversial. I've highlighted lots of sections in the book so I can refer back to them at a later date. I work in education and these ideas can be applied to your own personal life as much as they can to your professional life. Don't miss this one.

[Aakash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very empowering book. Loved how Jeetendr says “Focus on what you believe and what you want to create, regardless of the blowback.” It's the only way to break through today. To not care about what anyone else thinks or says about you. There are always going to be haters!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot WAIT!!!

[Philipp · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read - provides a considered and insightful discussion about social media marketing and celebrity branding. A must read!

[Anemone Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't judge a book by its cover! This is a brilliant and entertaining book about marketing, PR and modern celebrity.

[Melody · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like it oversimplified many things without looking at the larger cultural context. I was unclear what the point was. It seemed to want to be a book about how to market, particularly to millenials and gen z. But it didn't feel like a marketing book. Neither did it feel like a self help book. Neither was I really am in depth look at how Kim Kardashian has re shaped the game. All of which I would have been interested in. It just didn't seem to dig deeper into anything. It felt surface level, and while the anecdotes fit, they always felt specifically shaved to encapsulate the platitude. And the end then rehashed all the advice we'd already gone over. It was pretty unnecessary and felt like filler.

For a book written by the self proclaimed authority on celebrities, I was just expecting a little more. Because I am fascinated by that. The marketing of it. The psychology of it. All of it. There are some good ideas and points here. But this just didn't got far enough for me, or know exactly what it wanted to be.

Then again, maybe I am just not the right audience for this. But I am glad we've got this conversation going.

[Anushri Shukla · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book failed to impress me. I felt that the ideas expressed here where disorganised and were all over the place. The real life examples were inadequate and some didn't make much sense.
Also, this book is focused on western audience, so as an Indian it was not very relatable.

[Misu · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing how an "expert in social media" has absolutely no idea on how social media really works.

[Eve]

True to its title, the author provides a perfect example of shamelessness. A NY Times Article says this:

"Marketing consultants sometimes buy followers for themselves, too, in effect purchasing the evidence of their supposed expertise. In 2015, Jeetendr Sehdev, a former adjunct professor at the University of Southern California who calls himself “the world’s leading celebrity branding authority,” began buying hundreds of thousands of fake followers from Devumi.

He did not respond to requests for comment. But in his recent best-selling book, “The Kim Kardashian Principle: Why Shameless Sells,” he had a different explanation for his rising follower count. “My social media following exploded,” Mr. Sehdev claimed, because he had discovered the true secret to celebrity influence: “Authenticity is the key.”"

[Michael Heath-Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, only in America, I suppose. I thought I would tackle this book on media hype, written from an insider's point of view - someone who has actually taken it seriously, or perhaps like so many, just tried to infiltrate the very odd "Celebrity" social network and lifestyle. As I don't watch TV I have no idea who or what a Kardashian is, and have not seen any point in finding out, and my opinion on that has not changed despite reading a book which insists that everyone in the world knows what a Kardashian is. Down the other end of the Youtube and TV pipe, are the couch potatoes and their junk food packets 'consuming' endless 'entertainment' or 'product,' being manipulated and shepherded by the rather desperate branding hype executives to buy things they probably don't need. Jeetendr's book, at motor-mouth speed, 10 second sound-bite dissects and recommends actions required to get noticed in this miasma of desperate and ambitious egos, some of which are quite interesting and come across as against the grain personal behaviour - but which, in reality, are quite effective.

[Dna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Utter CHRASH. :)

"Kim doesn't sit around waiting for things to happen to her; she goes out and makes them happen."

You're right, Jeetendr: she doesn't sit around. She lays around. On her back. In front of a running camera. With a dick in her mouth. I hate authors that talk out of their ass just to latch onto some popular figure or idea.

I don't need to learn from a porn ho. DUMPED.

[Kieran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came upon this book after hearing all the buzz about it. It totally blew me away. Rarely do you come across a book so well read and researched. It's also very revealing and gutsy. Its more than a quick fun read. I felt that this book empowered me to make a difference in my own life and I thank Jeetendr for that.

[Zack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did not disappoint. The buzz was worth it. It's a refreshing book and not for the faint hearted! We want more!! When marketing anything, keep these six concepts in mind: Surprise, Expose, Lead, Flaws, Intimate, Execute that spells SELFIE. Genius.

[Rahaki · Rating 1 out of 5]

This self-proclaimed “expert” buys bots and likes to raise his profile. It works short-term and only if you can afford it.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“It’s your flaws that make you fascinating, so embrace yours.”

Thank you, Jeetendr! One of the best self-help books I’ve read in quite a while. I’ve been struggling in lockdown and needed some real inspiration for 2021. I found The Kim Kardashian Principle quietly profound and deeply meaningful. There are so many counterintuitive rules that we need to abide by to breakthrough. For example, the power of showing your vulnerability and how hate today is a status symbol. You know you've made it when someone hates on you.

The best part?

The book is perfect for anyone who had ever wondered if they were enough.

[Tessa Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't judge me - I was curious to see how people become "famous for being famous" and ended up picking up this book.

For me, this book was incredibly validating.

I myself am an author with a growing social media presence. I swear a lot, show off a collection of tattoos, and I've been told to make my social media accounts "more professional." Words like branding and consistency have gotten thrown around a lot.

The thing is that I hated it. I don't like feeling inauthentic, and I don't like having a social media account just for the sake of selling books. I don't like being told, "Be more like this, be more like that."

This book took that conventional wisdom that you're taught in an Intro to PR class and basically threw it out the window. It made me not hate marketing, and even if there's a chance that the advice is BS, the fact that it makes me NOT hate marketing was enough to grow my presence.

I do think that he oversimplified quite a bit - it takes more than "being authentic" to attract followers, as evidenced by the fact that he was caught buying fake followers - but I like the core message.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Get over yourself in case you're deterred by the title. In case you're wondering about your "unknown unknowns" in order to be more effective in this exponential world, pick up this book. Very refreshing and provides a new lense especially if you usually indulge in a Ray Dalio style hyper-rational reading diet.

[B Bananas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Utter rubbish, he does not have real life experience with celebrities other than when being paid to write something, though that is a waste of time as no one is interested. Check out his full of bots Twitter account, even with bots has little action, response. He has no worthy opinion in the real world to actually comment on success.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is rubbish. This guy has no idea what he is writing. He does no research. Do yourself a favour and don't waste your money.

[Christina Hannan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was quite surprised reading this book. While I don’t usually enjoy non-fiction, I found myself liking this book a lot. Sehdev’s work was both informative and filled with wit that made me laugh out loud a quite few times. His observations about the trends in celebrity culture have examples as well as reasons why he believes that interaction with the stars have moved in the direction it has. It’s a fascinating read no matter how knowledgeable of the intricacies of social media you are.

[Johnson Tran · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to be honest, I wasn't expecting much from this book, but after reading the first chapter... I was HOOKED. Not only is this book - engaging, realistic, enlightening, but DAMN it made me re-evaluate so many of my life choices, goals, and how I approach my personal storytelling, brand, social media, and marketing choices.

As a students in Communications and Digital Marketing, I recommend this to anyone wanting to think out of the box in terms of marketing.
As a person who is currently making a life change and wanting to be more mindful of their actions, I recommend this book FOR EVERYONE.
If you want to connect to younger audiences (Millennials + Get Zs) get this book!

This book has tons of relatable references, humorous tid-bits, awesome examples, and great insights. Thank you Jeetendr for writing this amazing book! A must read!

[Sally Howell · Rating 1 out of 5]

This guy is delusional, he rides on the names of actual celebrities to try to be a celebrity but he is no one and don’t think he hasn’t paid for the “good” reviews and likes he has been found to do that on social media. HE IS A SCAMMER! I wouldn’t be surprised if he bought this, his own book in bulk. HE IS A FAKE if he was so influential and such a success he would have real followers, but he doesn’t he has paid bots. Such a sham.