This book really isn't as focused on Star Wars as it wants you to believe. It is clearly a cash grab. But it starts off good. The first bit I actually enjoyed as it talked about the behind the scenes of Star Wars and about the Hero's Journey aspects of Star Wars, but after that it felt apart and was a bit of a drag for me to read. I feel like this book was meant for the older audience. What I mean by this is that there were a lot of times in the book where there were jokes that I did not get. Also, the word choice in the book was astonishing. I had to look up the meaning of so many words it was ridiculous. In the book I also liked how the author made connections with Star Wars and real life. I've never read a book that connected a movie to real life, it was very cool. After reading this book my perspective about Star Wars changed a little because of the connections being made to life on Earth. Overall this book was a good book to read.

While Star Wars can be read many different ways, there’s no denying that it was made by a guy from the United States – a country known as “the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

I selected this book because it was written recently. Often summer reading lists included only books written a long time ago. I am familiar with the Star Wars films. I liked the book because it covered topics like politics, parent-child relationships and Star Wars symbolism. Sometimes it was a humorous book which lightened the mood when discussing things like father-son relationships. Sometimes parents and kids don’t talk for a long time. The author says not to do this because you will regret it later. George Lucas the creator and of Star Wars was not on good terms with his dad because he did not go into the family business. Cass R. Sunstein has done it: He's made Star Wars into a valuable legal text. In The World According to Star Wars, he considers the social, political, and moral ramifications of the films' mythology... Sunstein provides new insights into a series we love."-- Slate And that’s just what Star Wars did. The gigantic space ships, comical droids and lightsaber duels let people forget about their problems and have a bit of fun. Star Wars gave people an alternate reality they could flee to, something bigger than themselves they could be a part of, and with its big spaceships, two large, opposing parties, fun jokes and futuristic technology just the right mix of fun, escapism and clarity about what’s right and what’s wrong. Whether or not you’ve watched the Star Wars movies, you’ve almost certainly heard of them, and you’re probably even familiar with some of the franchise’s characters and artifacts: the tiny Jedi master Yoda and his inverted syntax; lightsabers with their swooshing noise; the evil Darth Vader with his heavy breathing and famous line, “I am your father.” These are just a few of the most popular references. There are many, many more – some serving as set-ups for jokes and others ready to be quoted by committed fans.

The book is basically a bunch of bullet points, with little to no analysis of Star Wars. The analysis that is there is not new or fresh. I have read/seen/heard virtually all of this all over the Internet over the years. I've had in depth, at length discussions with friends and relatives about many of the topics covered, and for that matter, many topics that weren't (but that I hoped would be). It honestly felt like a rip off. Take all these factors into account, and it becomes clear that Star Wars is about the price we pay for freedom. Speaking of smug, apparently this guy used to work in the Obama administration, and he name dropped Obama every chance possible. It was too much. Intriguing and thought-provoking, “The World According to Star Wars” offers a captivating journey into the heart of this beloved franchise and its impact on our world. If you want to uncover the hidden depths of the Star Wars phenomenon and gain a deeper appreciation for its cultural significance, this book is a must-read. It’s not just a book for Star Wars fans; it’s a compelling exploration of the broader impact of storytelling on our lives.

Review

Alright, let’s get this out of the way, which side of the fence are you on? Star Wars or Star Trek? Let’s not pretend that the world isn’t split into these two camps only, because if you’re a Trekkie then… Enlightening...perceptive...Mr. Sunstein comes across as an energetic, friendly dinner-party tablemate.” ( New York Times)

The second main ingredient in this work is even more insulting. In certain sections Sunstein offers a brief statement about Star Wars, following by a tortured segue that leads to a subject he actually knows something about, and then a long commentary on that other subject. By throwing in a reference to Star Wars at the beginning and ending of what were obviously independent and unrelated pieces, he seems to assume Star Wars fans will be duped into overlooking the fact he's simply getting another publication to his credit by rehashing his previous (and clearly non- Star Wars-related) work. This is not, as the title claims, The World According to Star Wars; it's The World According to Sunstein with Occasional Mention of Star Wars to Lure Fans into Buying a Book Unrelated to Their Interests. The World According to Star Wars” is a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of the cultural and societal impact of the Star Wars franchise. Written by Cass R. Sunstein, a prominent legal scholar and author, this book delves into the vast and ever-expanding galaxy of Star Wars to discuss its relevance in our real world. Business, Money, Industries, Arts, Entertainment, Performing Arts, History, Criticism, Popular Culture, Parenting, Families, Relationships, Media Tie In, Star Wars, Philosophy, Pop Culture, Politics, Sociology, Psychology, Writing, Essays Table of Contents

Customer reviews

No one has their life or creative projects figured out in advance. Everyone is playing it mostly by ear. Once you create something and put it out into the world, the response it will have and how people interpret that work are no longer in your hands. If something is massively popular, it’s often because an initial wave of popularity fueled it to grow into something everyone wants to be part of. While this effect can also apply to politics – in both good and bad ways – Star Wars ultimately reminds us that the great beauty of life lies in our freedom of choice. About the author But that’s not how creativity really works. The creative process is about being open and uncertain, and latching on to ideas that emerge along the way. The popularity of Star Wars is a matter of timing and the desire to be part of the phenomenon. The fact that almost everyone in the world knows Star Wars, Coca-Cola, Facebookand a few other names is of course the result of long years of hard work – but to some degree, it’s coincidence. An enlightening and surprisingly personal tour of a galaxy...Sunstein offers plenty of fun details and opinions."-- Washington Post Entertaining...the ultimate primer for guiding a Star Wars padawan to the level of Jedi Knight.” ( TIME)