Staff Book and Media Recommendations

Chuck Klosterman IV: A Decade of Curious People and Dangerous Ideas

Chuck Klosterman

Pop culture genius Chuck Klosterman presents an anthology of his writings including celebrity interviews, columns, and a novella. The first section, "Things That Are True," holds celebrity interviews and profile pieces written for various publications including Spin and Esquire. These range from an odd interview with Val Kilmer, an even odder interview with Britney Spears ("Britney Spears is the most famous person I've ever interviewed. She is also the weirdest. I assume this is not a coincidence."), and his seven day trial of eating only McDonald's Chicken Nuggets and "Goth Day" at Disney Land.

The next section, "Things That Might Be True," includes insightful and thought-provoking journalistic pieces, mostly personal opinion, but Klosterman wants you to think, not push an agenda. Some of the topics he addresses are how to identify your personal arch enemy, the Olympics, and the general view of pop culture. In this last essay, I think is the best line of the book, "In a democracy, don't get pissed off over the fact that the way you feel about culture isn't some kind of universal consensus. Because if you do, you will end up feeling betrayed. And it will be your own fault. You will feel bad, and you will deserve it." The last section, "Something That Isn’t True at All," is a short story written in 1999.

Klosterman takes on pop culture with humor, intelligence, natural snarkyness, and compassion. This book is highly recommended. ~ Dana Jackson-Hardwick

Reviewed April 2009