Book Review: Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs
Know-it-all author’s new book tells the truth behind Generation X, cereal mascots
By Chuck Klosterman
Kansas State Collegian

Chuck Klosterman, a senior writer at "Spin," doesn't know everything -- he just writes about it.

In his new essay collection, "Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs," Klosterman writes about soccer, the coolness of Billy Joel, dancing with serial killers, Guns N' Roses tribute bands, Rapture movies starring Kirk Cameron, the Celtics-Lakers rivalry, Internet porn and just about everything else.

His subtitle, "A Low Culture Manifesto," works as a mission statement. Klosterman loves low culture and finds it worth writing about, even if other people malign it. After all, if everybody from a certain generation watched a show like "Saved by the Bell" and loved it, doesn't that make it important?

One of his main ideas is that hugely popular works of art are infinitely more important than unpopular but critically acclaimed works because of how many more people they reach. It isn't clear if he even likes "Saved by the Bell," but he certainly loves deconstructing it.

As evidenced by Klosterman's previous book, "Fargo Rock City" -- perhaps the most hilarious and informed book about hair metal ever written -- Klosterman has a tendency to obsess over his preferences.

If he truly believes that, say, MTV's "Real World" has transformed everybody on earth into one of seven easily identifiable personality types, he will spend at least an entire chapter trying to defend it.

However, he never lets his convictions become pedantic. His essays are like transcripts of the zaniest, most transcendent all-night dorm room conversations you've ever had. We all have our weird musings on pop culture, and Klosterman is clever enough to write his down.

He's most hilarious when he writes exactly what you're thinking, although you'd never be able to phrase your thoughts so eloquently. His chapters about playing "Sims," coaching little league and eating cereal are tear-inducingly funny.

He always speaks the truth: Girls really do love John Cusack. Most cereal mascots either steal or protect cereal. He's brilliant as a memoirist, mocking himself and the culture that influenced him. He's proud to call himself a member of Generation X, and this informs all of his references.

Although some of the interludes don't seem to relate to the surrounding chapters, and although Klosterman writes more convincingly about music than anything else, it's possible to read "Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs" all the way through in one sitting. Like your favorite album, you won't want to skip any tracks.

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