Book Review - The Big Turnoff - Confessions of a TV-Addicted Mom Trying to Raise a TV-Free Kid

You will never feel the same when you turn on your television after you read the "The Big Turnoff" by Ellen Currey-Wilson. Published in 2007 by Algonquin Books of Chapel-Hill, "The Big Turnoff" follows the journey of the author after she makes the decision that her soon-to-be-born child will not be exposed to television. Currey-Wilson makes this decision based studies that show the detrimental influence television has on children and on her realization that she is addicted to television.Her book opens with her informing her husband of her decision that she supports with facts gleaned from articles such as:
The average child sees 16,000 murders on television by the age of 18.Every hour of television watched by preschoolers increases their chances of being bullies by 9 percent.Over 60 percent of child obesity cases are linked to excessive television viewing.
Currey-Wilson's determination to spare her child such negative effects comes from her recognition that her excessive television viewing arises from a dysfunctional need for comfort and distraction. She knows that she uses television as a companion instead of participating more fully in life. Television was her companion all the way through a troubled childhood that included a dead father and an alcoholic, pill-popping mother. She skipped a lot of school and watched television instead, and she still watches hours of television every day.Protecting her child from television prompts the author to establish a plan of cutting down her television viewing to two hours a week. This goal is supposed to be reached by the time her son is born, but it actually takes years for her to meet her goal.Her television addiction is portrayed in guilty detail throughout the book as she struggles to overcome the powerful draw of the television. Even as she protects her baby from its influence, she comforts herself with television to cope with the stress of being a mother.Also, as the author describes her journey out of her addiction, she shows you through the course of the narrative just how omnipresent television is in our lives and in our society. The other mothers that Currey-Wilson befriends all use television and videos as a way to entertain and placate their children, which often makes play dates and other social situations difficult for the author because her child is not supposed to view television. For example, her son does not know the television characters on which the other children base their games.Currey-Wilson portrays herself with unflattering candor as she reveals her numerous insecurities and shortcomings as a person. Although she is vehemently committed to keeping her young son television free, she then becomes overly stressed about his trouble fitting in and making friends with all the television-raised children. She actually suffers more than her son, who is actually happy and comfortable with his lifestyle.Currey-Wilson also reveals her problems creating friendships because she is more accustomed to watching television than interacting with people. In her discussions with her therapist, Currey-Wilson describes her slowly maturing ability to form real human relationships as a progression from junior high to high school to adulthood. Her progress with relationships is touchingly illustrated by her improving interactions with her mother. They used to only watch television together, but now, under the new television-limiting rules of the home, Currey-Wilson and her mother join in genuine conversation and new activities. The author begins to overcome lingering resentments about her mother as she learns about the challenges her mother faced as a single parent and feminist career woman. She achieves a much deeper understanding and sympathy for her mother."The Big Turnoff" is written with great skill, which the reader can appreciate even more because part of the book describes the author's development as a writer as she turns away from television. Many of the analogies she weaves throughout her narrative are derived from the plots and characters of television shows. This technique reinforces the author's point about the pervasiveness of television in our society.About the only flaw in this book that makes a good case for everyone to limit television viewing is the occasional peek into Currey-Wilson's sex life. I do not mind sex is books, but I just was not interested in her sex with her husband, and I do not think that it added anything to an otherwise important book.Aside from a couple doses of "too much information" Currey-Wilson has produced a book that everyone should read. Her own neurotic behavior and poor interpersonal skills prove her case against excessive television viewing. And her recovery from her addiction and development into a healthy and beneficial member of her community should inspire everyone to watch less television and do more. dr seuss cat in hat history