Book · 2011 · Performing Arts
Shock Value
How a Few Eccentric Outsiders Gave Us Nightmares, Conquered Hollywood, and Inven ted Modern Horror
Why people recommend it
Shock Value is a cultural history by Jason Zinoman that chronicles the gritty, revolutionary horror films of the 1960s and 1970s, detailing how visionary young filmmakers transformed Hollywood by introducing graphic realism, psychological terror, and subversive themes. The book explores the creation of iconic cinematic milestones by directors who rejected traditional studio formulas in favor of daring, boundary-pushing storytelling. On the podcast The Joe Rogan Experience, Joe Rogan enthusiastically recommended the publication to his audience while discussing classic horror cinema with guest Sam Morril. Rogan noted that he had just finished reading the book, identifying the author as a writer for The New York Times, and emphatically declared that the work was exceptionally good. The host praised the detailed examination of the cinematic movement that gave birth to some of the most enduring and unsettling horror pictures in film history. This recommendation underscored the book's broad appeal to fans of cinema and cultural history alike, positioning it as an essential read for anyone interested in the rebels who forever changed the landscape of American movie making.
Who recommended it
- Joe Rogan Recommended
Joe Rogan — 1 mention
“Man, I just read "Zinnaman, The New York Times" guy's book on horror movies. It's fucking great. It's called "Shock Value."”