"Harris, an astute observer of the artist-audience relationship, hosts NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, and her refreshing debut essay collection weighs in on the music, movies, and TV shows that have had an impact on her life. She explores the racist pushback against the casting of a Black actor as the lead in The Little Mermaid and the lack of narrative closure promoted by Hollywood's endless parade of reboots, remakes, and prequels, serving up insightful perspectives in animated prose." - Publishers Weekly, Holiday Gift Guide of 2023 "Come for the hot takes but stay for the thoughtful analysis that will stick with you long after the last word." - ELLE - Best New Books to Read in Summer 2023" round up "Refreshing . an astute observer of the artist/audience relationship . insightful perspectives in animated prose that affirm Harris's status as a first-rate cultural critic. As incisive as they are entertaining, these essays are a treat." - Publishers Weekly (starred review) "If you're looking for engaging nonfiction for your next trip or just love all things pop culture, add to cart ASAP.
" - The Skimm "[E]nlisting movies and TV to explain the world is Harris's expertise, arriving at 'inadvertent self-formation by way of popular culture.' For readers already inclined to read culture to understand themselves, WANNABE is a compelling affirmation that they're looking in the right place." - New York Times Book Review "Aisha Harris is the pop culture maven millennials have been waiting for. In this collection of essays, Harris brings a refined, journalistic scrutiny to subjective nostalgia, which makes Wannabe a truly magical summer read." - BookPage, Top Summer Reading Collection "[T]hought-provoking.essays.Adorned with witty remarks, tongue-in-cheek humor, and an unmistakable grasp of Internet culture, the memoir reads like an intimate gossip session, inviting readers to share Harris's enlightening epiphanies." - The Progressive "An incredible journey through pop culture's enduring and indelible impact.
In Wannabe, Aisha Harris unpacks the (sometimes better, often worse) ways that pop culture has shaped her own life, charting a course for the rest of us along the way. Harris's essays are brilliant, incisive, heartbreaking, and completely unforgettable. This is one of those rare books you'll pick up and not be able to put down -- it blew me away." - SUSAN RIGETTI, author of Whistleblower and Cover Story: A Novel "[Wannabe] probes a number of timely questions about our relationship with culture in the public dialogue, in an era when our preferences are an extension of ourselves -- a prescient analysis at a most essential time." - SHAMIRA IBRAHIM, culture writer and essayist ".lively essays. this collection offers a thoughtful and incisive discussion on how pop culture, whether intentional or not, influences the way we move in the world.vibrant, well-researched view on how current pop culture both reflects and informs our society.
" - Kirkus Reviews "Harris teases out the connections between her identity and her love of pop culture with wit and elan." - THE MILLIONS, A Most Anticipated Book of 2023.