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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Klosterman’s selection of topics is a bit all-over-the-place, but the central conceit of this book is strong, and when an essay in this hits, it hits hard.
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
I thought this would deal more with fictional villains, so was a little disappointed. Nonetheless, it's an entertaining read that taught more than I thought it would.
I'm not sure if this book is more pretentious than his previous books, or less focused, or what, but I didn't love it as much as his previous books. Still fun with unique perspectives, though.
Long ago, Klosterman carved out a niche as a humorist and high-brow pop culture critic, and to the casual observer, his shtick hasn't changed much. But this book (along with his column in the Sunday NY Times & his pieces on Grantland) show that he has grown as a thinker and as a writer. The big change is that he spends less time rhapsodizing about particular pop culture icons or artifacts (which is essentially what his peers and countless bloggers still do) and more time using pop culture to interrogate particular quirks of culture or human nature in general. By focusing on a single concept - evil - his riffs on O.J. Simpson, D. B. Cooper, and the Oakland Raiders becomes more academic (in the best sense of the word) and less masturbatory. There's a bit of Larry David-esque provocation in here, but his time teaching in Germany and writing the column on ethics for the Times, it seems, has prompted him to take his thoughts on culture more seriously. He's aware of the academic work on popular culture, but is rightfully critical of its biases and blind spots. Above all, his writing is still playful and witty. Its a quick read that feels like a conversation at a cocktail party.
If you enjoy Klosterman, you should enjoy this book. An interesting topic, the idea of villains and evil. It wasn't compelling enough to finish off quickly, I probably read this over the course of 3 months or so, but the essay format allows you to pick up and leave off pretty easily.
funny
reflective
medium-paced
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Villains are the ones who know the most and care the least. Discuss, using examples from history and pop culture. My favorite kind of book. Klosterman sometimes stretches his premise a bit, but in a lively conversation, mixing the philosophical and the profane, who doesn't?
medium-paced