THE WORLD ACCORDING TO STAR WARS A bit Forced

Rumour has it that Star Wars: A New Hope was terrible on the first draft. Unfortunately for fans, this academic exploration of what makes the series special feels very much still in the first draft phase.

Essentially a series of essays exploring topics as varied as the politics of rebellion, what social media can tell us about the franchise’s success, and the significance of choice vs destiny, there’s potential here. Sadly, it’s smothered by bad writing.

Clunky sentences, repetitive examples and cringey interjections tarnish every chapter. A straight exploration of the topics covered could be compelling, but Cass Sunstein is too intent on telling us how “terrific” Taylor Swift is to stay on target. The tone feels off, with several jokes failing to land. And any book dismissing 2001: A Space Odyssey as “insufferable” and “pseudoprofound'” while introducing a chapter offering 13 philosophical interpretations of Star Wars’ meaning doesn’t have a Force-choke grasp of irony.

Perhaps the personal touch was intended to make this book stand-out from the rest. It works, in that we want to aim a Death Star at it.

An eminent legal scholar, Cass Sunstein worked as a campaign advisor for Barack Obama.