Measured Updated dailyMarkdown copy

Book picks sorted by how you'll feel

A viral culture and creative format on TikTok and Instagram

Group recommendations by a specific mood or problem the reader has (need a good cry, anxiety) instead of by month or genre.

6

accounts it worked for

7x

median, times their usual

#18

of 63 in culture and creative

Angle

Slideshow, Video, Talking head

Why it works

A strangers' need ('I want to cry') solves a problem, so the list gets saved. Personal wrap-ups and TBR updates on the same accounts did far worse.

Hook formulaIf you need [specific feeling], read these [number] books

How to make it

  1. 1Name the feeling or problem in the hook
  2. 2Show the whole stack up front
  3. 3Give one concrete takeaway per book

Examples

Best first, one per account. Each links to the original post.

  • @cinamatttix

    12K followers, TikTok

    “Best movies WHEN YOU WANT...”

    382x their usual views, slideshow, movies and tv

  • @naderajib

    45K followers, Instagram

    “PART 2 MOVIES TO WATCH BASED OFF YOUR CHILDHOOD TRAUMA”

    18x their usual views, video, movies and tv

  • @lucysbookclub

    49K followers, Instagram

    “these are some”

    7.6x their usual views, talking head, books and writing

  • @sydk444

    134K followers, TikTok

    “book recs that will help you scroll less & read more!”

    6.2x their usual views, talking head, books and writing

  • @delaneylynne_

    59K followers, Instagram

    “if you're in need of a good cry, READ THESE BOOKS 📖❤️‍🩹😢”

    4.8x their usual views, talking head, books and writing

  • @delaneylynnesmith

    355K followers, TikTok

    “if you’re in need of a good cry, READ THESE BOOKS 📖❤️‍🩹😢”

    2.9x their usual views, talking head, books and writing

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More culture and creative formats

What’s working in culture and creative this week

How this is measured

  • Every post is compared with its own account's usual reach, not with other accounts. "14x their usual" means the post got 14 times the median views of that account's recent posts.
  • TikTok videos and Instagram Reels are measured on views. Instagram carousels have no view count, so they are measured on likes against the account's usual likes, and say so.
  • A post makes the library at 2x its account's usual or more. A format is a repeatable move (what is said or shown, or how it is edited) that several accounts used in breakout posts. It is listed here once it worked for 3 or more different accounts.
  • Formats rank on how many accounts they worked for and how far above usual, damped so a fluke on one tiny account cannot outrank a format that worked for ten.