Most good books I read have 5-stars on Amazon, but my all-time favorites have bad reviews
I see this pattern all over the place. The brands that people want to tattoo on their bodies are also the most repulsive: Metallica and Harley-Davidson come to mind.
Extreme levels of greatness can be polarizing.
Extreme levels of greatness can be polarizing.
This thread was inspired by @ShalnevaE, one of my favorite writers who credits André Gide’s 1895 novel, “Paludes,” with giving her a new understanding of the world.
3 stars on Amazon. Mixed reviews.
3 stars on Amazon. Mixed reviews.
I’m more interested in the distribution of reviews than the average one.
For example, I’d rather read a book that some people *loved* but most people didn’t like than a book that’s merely liked by everybody.
Books that everybody praises are often good, but rarely life-changing.
For example, I’d rather read a book that some people *loved* but most people didn’t like than a book that’s merely liked by everybody.
Books that everybody praises are often good, but rarely life-changing.
My theory of mixed reviews applies to professors.
During my junior year, I didn’t take a class with Professor Cahill because her reviews were so mixed: “Too much reading!”
But I changed my mind senior year, and the intensity of her class made it the best one I took in college.
During my junior year, I didn’t take a class with Professor Cahill because her reviews were so mixed: “Too much reading!”
But I changed my mind senior year, and the intensity of her class made it the best one I took in college.