The core idea of Alissa Wilkinson's book We Tell Ourselves Stories is an exploration of how Joan Didion's work and life were profoundly shaped by Hollywood and American mythmaking. Wilkinson shows Didion not merely as a literary stylist but as a cultural theorist deeply engaged with the storytelling mechanisms that define American life, particularly through Hollywood narratives. The book argues that Didion’s complex relationship with Hollywood—both in her proximity to it and her work within it as a screenwriter—revealed to her how narratives are constructed, manipulated, and sold, which then informed her critiques of political rhetoric, media spectacle, and social myths. The title is derived from Didion’s famous phrase that humans "tell ourselves stories in order to live," pointing to the human impulse to create narratives that make sense of chaos and give meaning to experience, even if those stories are illusions or performative.followingfilms+2

Key concepts in the book include:

• The American myth as shaped and propagated by Hollywood, exemplified by figures like John Wayne symbolizing a nostalgic, idealized vision of America.

• Didion’s ideological evolution from initial conservatism influenced by those myths to a skeptical, ambivalent critique of those same American narratives.

• The role of storytelling as both a survival mechanism and a potential source of political and cultural deception.

• The intersection of film criticism, screenwriting, and literary essay as lenses through which Didion dissected American culture.

• The idea that Hollywood functions as a metaphor and space for understanding broader social and political realities shaped by narratives.variety+2

Supporting evidence includes detailed analyses of Didion’s screenwriting career with John Gregory Dunne (e.g., A Star Is Born), her film criticism, and her nonfiction essays such as The White Album and Slouching Towards Bethlehem, where she critiques the narratives behind political speeches and social movements. The book draws on archival sources including Didion’s film critiques for Vogue, and places Didion’s work within the context of postwar American politics and cultural shifts during the Vietnam era.followingfilms+1

Insights from Wilkinson’s study reveal how Didion’s early idolization of Hollywood myths like John Wayne's clear moral narratives gave way to an understanding of ambiguity, complexity, and the erosion of tidy myths in both personal and national life. The book emphasizes Didion's skill in balancing a longing for narrative coherence with a sober examination of American disillusionment. Wilkinson also highlights Didion’s ability to read and reveal the performative nature of public political and cultural storytelling, cautioning against simplistic or overly sentimental narratives.englewoodreview+1

Criticisms and limitations of We Tell Ourselves Stories include its focused scope on Didion’s Hollywood years, which may leave out other significant parts of her legacy, such as her reporting in El Salvador and her later reflections on grief. Some reviewers note the book could have benefited from deeper engagement with other critical cultural voices or a broader dialogue with other African American and ethnic American writers to enrich its examination of Didion’s place in American cultural criticism.bostonglobe+1

The book's impact lies in its offering a new perspective on Joan Didion’s life and work, positioning her as a cultural seismograph and a key figure in American mythmaking rather than just a literary icon. It invites readers to reconsider the pervasive influence of Hollywood narratives on American identity and truth, encouraging a more nuanced understanding of how stories shape perception and politics. Wilkinson’s work is valuable for scholars and readers interested in film, literature, and cultural history as it bridges cinematic myth and political critique.bookmarks+2

Revelations from the book include the recognition that storytelling, while often seen as inspirational or motivational, also functions as a diagnosis of human condition—showing our attachment to constructed narratives to avoid confronting disorder and ambiguity. Didion’s life and work exemplify this tension, revealing both the power and the danger in the stories we tell ourselves to live.englewoodreview+1

In sum, We Tell Ourselves Stories by Alissa Wilkinson is a perceptive cultural study that contextualizes Joan Didion’s art within Hollywood’s mythic power, revealing how her engagement with film shaped her critique of American myths and contributed to her lasting influence as a writer and thinker.variety+2