Super Pop!: Pop Culture Top Ten Lists to Help You Win at Trivia, Survive in the Wild, and Make It Through the Holidays

By Daniel Harmon

Super Pop! offers a maximum-pleasure, minimum-effort way to become smarter, happier, and more likely to survive your next family function (or a shark attack). This hilarious and wide-ranging guide sorts nearly 500 different bestsellers, blockbusters, and underappreciated gems into quirky top ten lists, like "Outwit Death: Essential Lessons in Survival," and "Achieve Mindfulness: Movies That Will Show You the Way (With Wise Elders Now Included)." So whether you're looking for some motivational workout music, need help planning a July 4th double feature, or just want to pick up some knowledge without straining your brain, this book has you covered. With new insights on old classics and fresh ideas for jaded eyes, Super Pop! makes sense of pop culture — and then puts pop culture back to work!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lerner Publishing
• Release date: Jan 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781936976379

Daniel Harmon

Daniel Harmon is a former staff writer for Brokelyn.com, an occasional essayist on the topic of Tommy Wiseau's film The Room, and the author of the book Super Pop! Pop Culture Top Ten Lists to Help You Win at Trivia, Survive in the Wild, and Make It Through the Holidays.

Reviews for Super Pop!

[seschend · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

2.5 stars. Amusing in places and fun read, but definitely the sort of thing I'd normally shelve in a bathroom for reading in fits and starts.

[theflamingoreads · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

"Super Pop!" by Daniel Harmon is one list after another full of contemporary cultural lists - everything from "Live Like an Aristocrat - The Best Places to Mingle With the Elite" to "Sleep With The Fishes - The Ten Best Places to Find Your Spirit Animal" - each with a reference to shows, music, and books that are relevant today. The subtitle, "To Help You Win At Trivia, Survive In The Wild, And Make It Through The Holidays" gives you some idea of what to look forward to in his book. Each part begins with a general topic, "Get Smart(er)", and then provides the lists, "Get Up to Speed", and "Think Outside the Box", etc. The author provides an opinion as to which movies, shows, or books will then give you the advantage should you ever find yourself in a precarious situation or on the losing end of a cultural debate.This is less of an trivia book than a 'book of lists'. Unless you've been living in a cave for the past 15 years you will know these references and that makes for interesting reading. It's just uncool to not get a reference or recognizing a cultural icon! Of course, not everyone will agree that the movie "Shaun of the Dead" is a great example of "the very best of a fictional, non-familial family", but if that encourages a healthy and fun discussion, than that's good.Aimed more at a teenage audience (it seems), it's still an interesting read. The author's writing style (you may not find it as hilarious as he does) nonetheless lends itself well to the topics. I don't think you'll find any great revelations here, but you may just think of your favorite movie or book in a different light. For the afternoons (or extended sitting breaks in the smallest room in your house, if you know what I mean) when you just want to be entertained and not indulge in heavy reading and for lovers of everything 'pop culture' this book is highly recommended.

[idj_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Zest Books, the publisher of this book, lists it in their 2013 catalog as a new book of 'Teen Reads With a Twist'. It may be that the text is written at a level that any teen with normal reading comprehension will understand it, because I certainly see this book appealing to a far broader audience than just teens. In fact, anyone with an interest in contemporary pop culture will be interested in giving this book a go. It's funny, modern and has a tongue-in-cheek approach to a lot of things - things we hear or read on the internet every day. The book struggles a bit to be contemporary and 'with it' but, in the end, succeeds in doing what a good book should do - spark interest, stimulate curiosity and inform. To what degree each of those ends are met are left to the individual reader. I must say that I did enjoy it - probably because I get great satisfaction from poking fun at modern culture. Such fun...

[minacee · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Super Pop is a "bathroom book" or the book you leave lying around your house for guests to pick up and casually flip through to begin conversations. This is not a book you read cover-to-cover unless you are really looking to waste time. Majority of the illustrations are black and white, feature the superhero mascot of the book, and resemble the notebook doodles of a teenager. The book is a series of top ten lists with snappy titles ("Gain Emotional Intelligence: Because Sometimes IQ Isn't Enough") that are fairly well-rounded and up-to date. Are today's teenagers (the reader the author had in mind when writing this book) familiar with Seinfeld? They may not be but Daniel Harmon, also the editorial director of Zest Books, drops the long-running sitcom in the same list with the currently airing Modern Family.The beginning of the subtitle of this book is what caught my eye and made me request it: "To help you win at trivia." I am a trivia buff and love information but imagine my surprise as I was flipping through the book and found an ERROR. Yes, Harmon is a "pop culture connoisseur" and there is straight-up wrong information in his book.In the list titled "Ten Essential Catchphrases for Use At Dinner Parties" Harmon quotes Ken, a character from the popular Capcom video game "Street Fighter." Street Fighter is a lucrative series and has been around since the late 1980's. The book says that one of Ken's phrases is "Sonic Boom!" This is incorrect and it seems the author has confused one American blonde character from the series with another American blonde character: Guile.Ken was trained under a karate master in Japan and when Ken throws his projectile he says "Hadoken!" Guile is a member of the US Air Force and he shouts "Sonic Boom!" when he throws his projectile.Are there more errors in this book? I don't know because that one mistake shattered my confidence and I put the book down. I would proceed with caution when repeating anything read in Super Pop unless you know it to be true.

[hrc0826 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I thought that my 16 year old daughter and I would both enjoy this book so I was excited when I received it. We both found it to be clunky and not overly interesting. A good idea but the format could use some help.

[dmo_18 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received this book through the Early Reviewers program. I was curious to see the kinds of lists that were included and the items on those lists. As another reviewer has noted, there are some odd choices. A list of explorers is topped by Scrooge McDuck (what's that about???) and the "Find Your Calling" list is a group of movies, books, and TV shows that have characters with unusual hobbies. Other lists were a bit more interesting, such as the Essential Podcasts list. The "Get Motivated: Songs Guaranteed to Get You Pumped" exists solely to generate heated arguments, I'm sure. This is the kind of book that will serve to generate discussions on a long car ride and, likely, heated conversations between members of different generations. And it might lead you to check out a book or movie you have never heard of.

[bragan_8 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is, basically, a collection of recommendations for books, movies, TV shows, comic strips, songs, podcasts, YouTube videos, and websites. It's organized into lists with a nominal "how to" theme, but few of them are really about learning how to do anything; they're mostly just an excuse to gather together a bunch of works that may or may not have anything obvious in common. I like this rather offbeat approach, which nicely avoids rehashing any of the tired, familiar top ten lists that can be found all over the internet, and I really like the eclectic nature of the choices, which range from the classic to the current, from the highbrow to the trashy. And, in my opinion, at least, a lot of those choices are pretty good ones. Sadly, despite all that, I don't think this book was terribly successful at what it was trying to do. It never resulted in any additions to my Netflix queue or my LibraryThing wishlist, never made me want to run out and sample any of this supposedly great stuff it was talking about. At most, it made me mildly curious about a handful of things. The thing is, when I was familiar with the work in question, more often than not I found myself nodding in agreement and smiling a little at the in-jokes, but when I wasn't, there was seldom enough substance here to tell me why I should want to familiarize myself with it or to make me feel particularly interested. Far too often, it felt like the author was too busy trying to be cool and funny and wacky and hip (with varying levels of success) to pay enough attention to actually having something worthwhile to say. So, while it was reasonably entertaining to flip through, it was ultimately a bit of a disappointment.Rating: A slightly generous 3.5/5

[kellyatfsu · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this book and the different medias represented in the lists. The dialogue is funny and the topics entertaining. It would've been better with more pop culture related pictures. Not a super useful book, but fun to browse through

[marcush_42 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was an Early Reviewer copy of the book and honestly it kind of confused me. I'm a huge trivia and pop culture fan so I was looking forward to expanding my knowledge. Unfortunately, I felt like this just compiled the author's lists of favorite pop culture figures into personally themed lists. Examples include a list of books where the protagonist is very self-centered: Catcher in the Rye, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Room, Persepolis; and a list that compiles pop culture references to mentor-like figures: Empire Strikes Back, City Slickers, Silence of the Lambs, The Matrix, Harry Potter. While the author provides interesting examples, I kept scratching my head at some of the choices. Many of these odd choices are mentioned in other reviews (#1 explorer reference in pop culture = Scrooge McDuck...where the heck is Indiana Jones...nowhere on the list).While I can understand a compilation of pop culture lists being opinionated and slightly odd (I have my own lists that can attest to this), I was most disappointed with the small paragraph explanations of the choices. The explanations border mostly on summary and very rarely makes clear why the author includes the submission.Overall, the book could be entertaining if it is simply flipped through for some quick pleasure, but to sit down and read through each list creates a frustrating, head-scratching experience.

[thebentley · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's surprising that the fine folks at Mental Floss magazine have not yet snapped up young Mr. Harmon. If nothing else, Super Pop! feels very much like a quality audition for that gig. It's a fun "bathroom book," at least as good as the "canon" of such books put out by Mental Floss, but, as a subscriber to that publication, I have to say that the magazine's copy-editors do a better job (and on a more frequent basis) and such lists are more effective when they are serialized. I only rarely agreed with Harmon's taste, and I thought many of his lists were specious at best (and that because his voice is charming and ironic and I couldn't help but like him). But the true test of a book like this is always whether or not it created interest, and I have to say that, in my case, it did. While I was reading it (in its, let's say, natural setting) I dog-eared many pages. I felt inclined to ask my friends, family and co-workers their opinions on the lists involved, and I added many books, movies, tv shows, comic books, websites, songs, podcasts, and video games to my list of stuff I need to experience. (You've got to give the author credit for his RANGE, which is simply exceptional). And I whole-heartedly agree with him that pop culture is both more important and more complex than we give it credit for. I am frankly very interested in seeing what Harmon would do with a regular column (or podcast!) in a periodical that shares his quirky values. In short, the book itself is mediocre (unless you are still stacking Reader's Digest on your toilet tank--in that case, burn them for fuel and buy this book!) but the author has a great future ahead of him.

[kjeanqu · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was great for list and trivia lovers. I thoroughly enjoyed the lists, the descriptions and the humor! The lists were varied and very descriptive. If you are looking for new books to read, movies or television to watch or even new music to listen to this is a great place to get some recommendations. I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in pop culture.

[aquariusnat · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a fun trivia book ! It has a wide variety of topics to delve into . There is plenty of room for debate in all of the lists in the book , but that's half the fun ! If you like these types of trivia list books , then you'll be pleased with this .

[literate0ninja · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is a lot of fun. Presented as a book of lists, it gives a pretty good showing of pop culture today. The recommendations range from 18th century literature to YouTube music videos, and could conceivably be used as a textbook of modern human entertainment for someone just arrived from Mars. It is humorous, clever, and filled with really good information and suggestions. In nearly every list I found recommendations for things I had never heard of before, and I look forward to reading/viewing/hearing quite a few of them in the near future. Recommended for anyone who's ever said "I'm bored."

[asbooks-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book is really fun and funny. A collection of Pop Culture lists with paragraphs describing each item on the list. Great tone and made me laugh literally out loud. Recommended if you like to smile.

[alliebadger · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I got this from Early Reviewers and, when I found out which book I was getting, was a little disappointed. I assumed it was intended for kids and teens and didn't really need another book telling me what to watch. But once I got the book and started flipping through it, I became much happier. First of all, each list is a mix of mediums - no specific "movies" or "books" list, instead they all are considered for each category. And rather than your typical "10 Movies About France" lists, this book is full of entertaining list categories such as "Live Like an Aristocrat: The Best Places To Mingle With The Elite" (includes Jeeves & Wooster, Brideshead Revisted, Casino Royale, Keeping up with the Kardashians, Downton Abbey, and Game of Thrones) or "Go Where Everybody Knows Your Name: The Best Places To Hang Out For An Hour" (includes the bar in Cheers, the theme park in Adventureland, the Shire in LOTR, the Snakehole Lounge in Parks and Rec, and the Community study room). I look forward to making my way through the lists!

[princemuchao · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Perhaps this would be better suited for teens because everything I was interested in I had already seen, and the author for the most part does not do a good job convincing you to pursue list items you have not already experienced. His "witty" style of writing grates on me, and I was finding it very difficult to finish the book without skipping sections. Despite all this, some of the entries did show promise - the way he described Johnny Cash's cover of Hurt stands out among the rest and is illustrative of how this book could have been more successful in reaching me.

[peripa_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed Super Pop. I thought it was fun. The author has some fun and original commentary that kept me interested even though there was not necessarily a lot of new information. I imagine if one is less of a pop culture dork it would be a much more informative read. I think this book is marketed as being for teenagers. I'm not sure I would let young teenagers read it as there is some content/language best suited for older teenagers and adults. Overall: Super Pop is fun, looks stylish and would make a good gift for pop culture buffs or list lovers.

[scififan42 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I am not at all clear as to the target audience for this work. While it is amusing to look at all the list of pop culture references, some of the references are to movies or books that most teens with parents will probably not have seen. For example, while I dearly love Game of Thrones, this is not a show that I would like my teens watching (unless it is part of a sex-ed class). And isn't recommending Home Alone against the Geneva convention? Or should be. This book could be a fun party-game where everyone has their own choices for the various top ten lists. Get 10 people in a room and you will probably get ten lists different from what is in this book. It may make a good gift book for media savvy youths - or culturally deprived adults. For more well-informed adults I would give it a pass.

[wcs53_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a great book for anyone who loves lists and pop culture. What I liked most about it was that there were plenty of lists of things that may have seemed to be a little on the obscure side. Some of the lists are great as conversation starters and could lead to some interesting debates. It's a book that one can easily dip in and out of at any time. There were times when I found myself at odds with the author's ideas and choices, which isn't really a bad thing, because I'm sure that he wouldn't agree with all of my choices. I also discovered some new books and movies that I want to explore now, as some of the lists have piqued my interest. It's a great book to leave lying on the coffee table and a few of my friends have already shown some interest in it.

[breadnbutter · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you are a fan of all kinds of pop culture (tv, movies, music) then this book is for you. After reading through all the lists, I got a lot of reccomendations for new shows and movies to watch which is great. I am always on the lookout for new awesome entertainment. This is a great coffee table or bedtime book to peruse even if you only have a few minutes.

[booklove2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

POP CULTURE! That is my thing. Books, movies, music, TV, videogames. So this book had my interest right away. Actually, what caught my attention was that a Daniel Harmon wrote this book and I immediately thought of the creator of my favorite show 'Community' and how awesome a book about pop culture would be from such a brain as his. Though, as a disclaimer, the author of the book is NOT that Dan Harmon. But wow is this book fun. There are dozens of themed lists with countdowns of fun movies, music, etc included in that topic. An example: 'Thanksgiving: Ad hoc families that will do in a pinch'. This is supposedly a book for teens, but some of the things in these lists aren't really for teens... like anything in the 'Dive into the Underworld' category. Some of these things seem like the most extreme of the most extreme to me. It was fun just to think up what I might add to each list... and also how fun it would be to write your own book like this one. In general, I'd have to say that most of the things mentioned here were things I was already aware of... but if my brain knows anything, it knows pop culture. But maybe this is a pop culture primer... to make sure you are aware of these things, fill in the gaps. If anything, it reminded me of the great things I already knew about but didn't actually partake in yet: for example, 'The Brief Wondrous Life of Ocsar Wao' is on my shelves, I just haven't read it yet. This book may make me read that sooner. So this might be a nice look at pop culture things you should be aware of organized in the most fun and best way possible. I'm very thankful I'm living in 2013.. there is no lack of pop culture goodness to keep me occupied! For fun, I'll finish this review with a list of my Top 11 favorite things mentioned in this book:11. I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith (book)10. The Avengers (movie)9. Arrested Development (TV)8.Amelie (movie)7. Seven Samurai (movie)6. American Gods - Neil Gaiman (book)5. Watchmen (graphic novel)4. Freaks & Geeks (TV)3. Buffy the Vampire Slayer - 'Once More With Feeling' (TV)2. Jeff Buckley's 'Hallelujah' (music)1. Community (TV)

[capfox · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

At first glance, I wasn't 100% sure what I was getting with this book. It's just a bunch of lists, written along pretty broad themes, for about 300 pages, and I thought it'd get tiring. But really, the net cast by the author is so broad, and the writing so clear and engaged with the various topics, that it never really got old! Beyond that, I also learned of a lot of different things that I hadn't heard of before, in terms of books, movies, music, and more, that I've enjoyed afterwards. I've gotten this as a present for a couple of people, and I really think it's worth giving a try. Probably best not to sit down and read all at once, especially if you want to try looking at some of the things on the lists you're reading through, but it's good enough you'll get through it eventually!

[morphidae_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I started off not liking this book because it wasn't what I expected. I thought I was getting a book of light-hearted top ten lists. Instead, I got lists that were more thoughtful with reviews for each entry. Once I got past my initial frustration, I mostly enjoyed it. The format was good and the writing has clarity. For the most part, I liked reading it though at times it got too dry or snarky. I went through the book with highlighter in hand for books, movies and such to search out later. One marker of success for this book is the amount of highlighting I did!

[ellienyc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

If you are addicted to lists (as I am) and like quick ways to know what's "in" and what's not (as I do), then [book:Super Pop!: Pop Culture Top Ten Lists to Help You Win at Trivia, Survive in the Wild, and Make It Through the Holidays|15815620] by [author:Daniel Harmon|3271648] is an absolute necessity for you. It is full of lists-interesting, informative, and hilarious. You can read it from beginning to end, of course, if you like, or flip through and tune in to whatever subject fits your mood of the moment. I've done it both ways and both work.The lists include a variety of media-books, movies, and tv, of course, but podcasts as well. When you find you know all the information on a list, you get to feel smugly hip and can still enjoy Harmon's comments. If the information is new to you, this is the easiest educational format imaginable.If you don't love lists or care about pop culture, this book might just change your mind!I will be reading and re-reading Super Pop until Harmon's next installment appears. It's the easiest good time I know of.