Loved it!

If you're reading this post, chances are high that you are a fan of The Bachelor franchise; "fan" may be an exaggeration, but this includes those of you who watch episodes and clips, here and there, so that you can snark on either The Bachelor or The Bachelorette, and their corresponding potential loves, with your friends.

"We don't want to see them getting married. We just want to see them getting proposed to, because the idea of someone wanting to spend the rest of their life with you is better than actually doing it."
"” Comedian Nikki Glaser, quoted in Bachelor Nation

My foray into the world of rose ceremonies began in 2003, with Trista Rehn's stint as The Bachelorette; I'd not watched the two previous seasons of The Bachelor, but I was hooked after the debut of this spin-off. Many years later, more than I'd like to acknowledge, I'm still watching. I'm thankful for the advent of online viewing services, like Hulu, so that I no longer have to stay up late on Monday nights and endure endless commercial breaks.

"Villa de la Vina - or the Bachelor Mansion, as it's known to millions of viewers - is hidden off a canyon road just a few exits on the Ventura Freeway past the Kardashians."

Thanks to her position as a writer, covering celebrities, film and pop culture, at the Los Angeles Times, author Amy Kaufman was able to build a unique relationship with the franchise; however, as soon as she stopped playing by their (unspoken) rules and voicing her own opinions of the show, the network revoked her access.

"There was no final rose. I didn't get a chance to say my goodbyes. No one even offered to walk me out."

Not only does Kaufman share some of what she encountered during her insider's view of the production, but she also delves into the why; for example, why are we watching this show? Most of us are highly educated, successful women who are likely very supportive of gender equality and might even consider ourselves feminists. Why do like-minded individuals agree to become contestants on one of these shows?

"Young women in the twenty-first century who are college educated and have managerial positions - in other words, the main Bachelor demographic - have been told for years they can do anything they want. And yet these women still face pressure to be thin, beautiful, and stylish."

It's an interesting question, and one that could likely spark lively debate; initially interested in the secrets she might divulge, Kaufman exceeded my expectations when she shared some of the research she'd done on the topic and I began asking myself deeper questions...and also wondering how I would ever pack to appear on one of these shows.

"Both genders are told to bring clothes for all climates: swimsuits, winter jackets, sweaters, t-shirts, tank tops, casual day clothes, gloves and warm hats - plus fourteen formal outfits, in case they make it through all of the rose ceremonies."

Highly readable, compelling and unique, I devoured Bachelor Nation in under two days; if you are even remotely interested in this topic, I highly recommend Kaufman's book!

Let me start with I am and have always been an avid reader all my life. Also, I have never missed an episode of The Bachelor. Until today, I have never written a bad review for a book. Just because I didn't like it, doesn't mean someone else won't love it. With this said, Bachelor Nation is the biggest waste of time and money. I bought it thinking if it wasn't very good, I could just skim through it. This book is more about Amy (the person that wrote it). Also about other things that in my opinion really didn't have a lot to even pertain to The Bachelor. I couldn't get very far even with skimming. In my opinion, it truly was THAT BAD! I hate to be negative about any book, but if I just can't find a single good quality about it

If you've ever wondered how or why the TV show "The Bachelor" is so popular, this book does the trick. It's entertaining, very well-researched and highly-informative at the same time. I am a very cynical fan of the show (i.e. I don't believe any of these people are there "for the right reasons"), so my favorite parts of Kaufman's book are her in-depth interviews with former producers and cast members who explain how the heck they ever feel like they're "in love," after spending one day with a person. Kaufman also includes commentary from sociologists and psychologists, who drill down into the WHY we watch, which I enjoyed.