Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs-Chuck Klosterman
Published: 2003 (Scribner)
Setting: Chuck Klosterman’s Mind
Summary: Chuck Klosterman’s collection of essays touches on born-again apocalyptic literature, Celtics vs. Lakers, why the Dixie Chicks matter, and the pretentiousness of rock critics (him included). Klosterman tries to put on paper what he (we) really thinks about the world around us through pop culture. Klosterman explains why the fakeness of the real world reflects our own fakeness as humans. Klosterman implores us to see ourselves as Laker people, or Celtic people. Klosterman asks us to look at serial killers as celebrities, if only to show the true nature and cultural effect of both. This book, popularized by the critical reception to his first book and the books place on The OC’s Seth Cohen’s bookshelf. Klosterman’s essays, written during his time on the Akron Beacon Journal, bridge the gap between high culture (criticism) and low culture (perspective).
Klosterman’s style is fresh and polished, and his sections between chapters are often as interesting (and thought-provoking). His greatest skill is taking two seemingly disparate pop culture topics and connecting them in ways that make sense and add to the meaning of both. This is a great book.
Quote of the book: “Sonny is plagued with self-loathing; though outspokenly otaku for Cocoa Puffs, he doesn’t feel he deserves to consume them.’” (121). This is what you get for 240 pages, pure poetry.
Favorite character: Sonny, his description of the construction of Sonny’s character somehow relates to how coolness is gauged and attained in modern America.
Favorite Setting: Seattle EMP Project, this is a great example of pretention at its height, but Klosterman doesn’t laugh at rock critics as much as try and understand the conditions that contemporary rock criticism operates in.
Please Stay for: Klosterman’s insight, plain and simple.
Please Question: Why we don’t have more books like this.
Will Reviews Things 