Somewhere in the middle of the book, Chuck Klosterman says the following:
“This is not the purpose of art and culture, but it’s probably the biggest social benefit: these shared experiences are how we connect with other people, and it’s how we understand our own identity.”
And isn’t that absolutely and unequivocally the case? It’s pretty easy to start a conversation with people if you can relate in some way to a shared experience and there’s no better universal example than popular culture. We can watch TV on our phones! How can you not be connected to something cultural with access like that?
Plus, come on- no one likes “that person” (and I’m willing to bet we’ve all unfortunately encountered at least one) who proudly declares that they are disconnected from everything popular, whether because they think it’s uncool to be connected or they pretend they’re too busy with more important matters to keep up. It’s fun to share experiences, especially when they involve taking over a conference room at work to host your own version of Fashion Police. (Hard to not miss you, Joan.)
In any case, if you like popular culture, Chuck Klosterman is a perfect journalistic fit. His work revolves largely around bands and music, but it’s not hard to gain an interest when it’s clear he enjoys the work so much. One of my absolute favorite book suggestions to give is Killing Yourself to Live, a book lent to me years ago by my father. (Hi- you get a shoutout that you didn’t have to ask for!) It’s a fascinating look at the locations of some of the most famous music related deaths- not the cheeriest subject matter, but an incredible book nonetheless.
Chuck Klosterman IV is a compilation of pieces he’s written over the past couple of decades. I’ve read some of these articles before, like the Britney Spears feature, but they are even better when put together because of the large scope of the people he talks to. His essay on Billy Joel was my favorite of the book, likely due to the subject matter above all else, but also because he got as close into the genuine experience of the individual as he could…even if it meant that the subject holds a bit of a grudge.
I’ve mentioned my love of footnotes before, but they’re especially charming in this case. A more cynical person (okay, fine- a person more cynical specifically about Chuck Klosterman) might find them a little narcissistic, but I think I love them specifically for that reason. He takes a super self-deprecating look at his past work and it’s a great reminder about growth, self improvement, the ability to critique your own work, etc. It’d be an interesting exercise for any journalist!
I’m definitely well within the range of people expected to enjoy the book, but I think it’s probably worthwhile for people less pop culture-obsessed than I am. It won’t be hard to find something to love in the book. A little long, but easy to pick up as you have time.
PS- relevant update of one of the first ever carlyreads picks! The trailer for Paper Towns is out now. Check it- my eyebrow muse Cara Delevingne looks to be killing it on screen.
You’ll like this if: your most visited website is PEOPLE.com. These are bite sized looks into the lives of celebrities.
Happy reading!
carlyreads 