Behind the Mirror: Inside the World of Big Brother
5 | 4 ratings
Price: 18.37
Last update: 11-30-2025
Top reviews from the United States
- M. Semigliathis made me one of those people who finish a book in one dayMuch like the show itself, this tome is quite binge worthy and I consumed it in less than a day! Taran shares an exciting and real history of US big brother and ties it beautifully to his upbringing. As someone who also spent his formative years consuming everything “classic big brother”, I absolutely related to this book. This is also a perfect entry point for anyone who is uninitiated in the ways Bb to learn why this show has such a grip on its hardcore fans.
- Aaron MGreat retelling of the wacky history of such a strange showit is an enthralling look at the wacky world of big brother and i thoroughly enjoyed it
- Linda McCutcheonQuintessential Must Listen For Every Reality And Big Brother Fan!"Big Brother was no longer just a mirror to society reflecting back what it saw; it was shaping the reality it reflected. Of course it was, it always had been. You can't look into a mirror without being impacted by what you see."
The multi talented podcaster Taran Armstrong has written the quintessential book for reality and, especially, Big Brother fans. Behind The Mirror...Inside The World of Big Brother, is the story of how a Netherlands show came to the U.S. in 2000, and 25 years later still dominates summer television.
In full transparency, l listen to Taran everyday during Big Brother. With my morning coffee he schools me on what happened in the house on Live Feeds Updates his RHAP podcast.
As a premier podcaster he narrates this book with grace, humor and fairness. You hear his pure joy talking about Dan Gheesling, considered by many the best to play the game, and how he won the season with bold conniving strategy that not even the audience saw happening...but Taran saw it, studied it and learned that how you played the social game is how you won.
Taran doesn't shy away from the show's controversies, from blatant racism, misogyny, to bullying among the houseguests. He brings to light what every super fan of the show already knows, if you aren't watching the 24 hour live feeds, you really don't know what is happening in this house.
This audiobook felt like having dinner with a friend who enthusiastically is explaining why a silly show with silly competitions is a mirror of our society reflecting back our flaws, ambitions and vulnerability. The TV show is not always reality but with Taran 's nuanced live feeds reporting and his debut book we get to go behind the mirrors and cameras and see the truth of a reality show and how it reflects our society where Big Brother is always watching.
This is a review of the audiobook. - ScottoNothing about behind the mirrorI mainly got this book to learn about what goes on behind the mirrors with how the show is made and produced. Instead we get an initial history and then just stories of famous episodes and rehashed explanations of rules with examples. Not what I came for but still mildly interesting. Beware that the book is mistitled. No information about what actually is behind the mirrors.
- Crystal RandallTaran knocked it out of the park!I have been a fan of Big Brother since I was a kid, watching since Season 2. I have watched Taran's live feed updates and Big Brother content for years and have loved his daily reenactments of the live feeds so I was incredibly excited to see that he wrote a book about Big Brother.
This book is incredible, it is so well written and I did not want to put it down. Reading the history of this game that I have loved since I was a kid was such a great experience. Early on in the book you can tell that Taran is very knowledgeable about the workings of the game and the history of how this show began and became the phenomenon that it has become. Taran highlighted several popular contestants of the game and their strategies and deeply explained their differences and why their strategies worked for them. He also dives deep into the controversies of the game but in such a respectful way, highlighting the issues that this show has had and continues to have. He is not afraid to call out issues that the show has had and delve into the importance of live feeds being the backbone of this show.
I cannot say enough good things about this book, I really do recommend it to any and all Big Brother fans and any fans of reality game shows in general. - JJAn insightful and personal deep diveAs someone who’s watched Big Brother for years, I found Behind the Mirror to be an insightful and surprisingly personal deep dive into the show’s evolution. Taran Armstrong does a great job weaving together the history of the franchise, from its early U.S. roots to its global adaptations, while reflecting on how the series has mirrored shifts in society and culture over time.
What I loved most is how the book balances nostalgia with analysis. It revisits the unforgettable houseguests, wild twists, and iconic moments that shaped the game, but it also looks beyond the drama to explore why Big Brother continues to fascinate audiences after so many seasons. Armstrong’s personal connection to the show adds warmth and authenticity, and it’s clear this is written by someone who truly loves and understands the world of reality TV.
I do think that this book is best consumed by someone who has at least a mild interest in the show; I think it could be less interesting to someone coming in blind. However, whether you’re a longtime fan or just curious about how a simple social experiment became a cultural phenomenon, this book offers a thoughtful and engaging perspective. - mehvaloved itI didn't know what to expect when i started this book, I have listened to Taran's podcasts for years and enjoyed them and he managed to convey the same saavy and personable, conversational style to the book. I didn't expect the book to move me to tears a number of times, to the stories of underdogs winning and esp Taylor Hale, to the experience of exclusion and the fights against the many forms of racism embedded in the show, i was crying. This is both his personal story of growing up as a 10yr watching big brother to a history of reality television. A discussion of ethics and many of the shows best moments and best characters over the years. It was written with insight , depth and heart and i loved it. 4.5