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lizabethstucker's review
4.0
Chris Kluwe has brought together his thoughts on equality, gun rights, gay marriage, football, salaries, writing, religion, and so many other subjects. The essays are funny, thought-provoking, possibly offensive if you are sensitive to blue language. Above all, they are well thought out and honest to the point of pain. Chris pulls no punches.
Here are two favorite sections.
On inequality: "If you vote to restrict the rights of other people, you are trying to make them your slaves. You are telling them that the very birthright that makes us human, the right to free will and choice, the right to happiness and freedom, does not apply to them. You are flat-out stating that these people are no longer human beings, that YOU should decide what's best, with no care for independent thought, that YOU alone know the only way to do things."
On writing: "There's no such thing as originality in the components of a story {...} the originality comes from what you bring to the table, the perspective you look out on the darkness with, the way you wrestle that fog into a shape no one has ever seen before."
I honestly don't remember how I found this book, but I'm glad I did. If you are the person who recommended it to me, thank you! Kluwe is sharp. He has a way with language that is fascinating and refreshing. He truly understands how his mind works. He's also a science fiction and fantasy reader, an influence that sometimes weaves through his essays. I highly recommend it. 4.5 out of 5.
Here are two favorite sections.
On inequality: "If you vote to restrict the rights of other people, you are trying to make them your slaves. You are telling them that the very birthright that makes us human, the right to free will and choice, the right to happiness and freedom, does not apply to them. You are flat-out stating that these people are no longer human beings, that YOU should decide what's best, with no care for independent thought, that YOU alone know the only way to do things."
On writing: "There's no such thing as originality in the components of a story {...} the originality comes from what you bring to the table, the perspective you look out on the darkness with, the way you wrestle that fog into a shape no one has ever seen before."
I honestly don't remember how I found this book, but I'm glad I did. If you are the person who recommended it to me, thank you! Kluwe is sharp. He has a way with language that is fascinating and refreshing. He truly understands how his mind works. He's also a science fiction and fantasy reader, an influence that sometimes weaves through his essays. I highly recommend it. 4.5 out of 5.
alliberry243's review against another edition
4.0
I love Chris Kluwe's writing. This book is a great assortment of short essays ranging in topics from gay marriage (many of his letters published in the Pioneer Press are in here) to time travel. He has very spot-on cultural critiques that I very much enjoyed. I hope he writes another book now that he's done with the NFL.
jolew's review against another edition
4.0
Well-written and pithy. Chris is articulate and knows when and how to curse. Not preachy but has a moral slant to the book.
I enjoyed it a great deal.
I enjoyed it a great deal.
ejdecoster's review against another edition
2.0
I almost felt like these essays were two short - often under three pages - and by the time I figured out what he was talking about they were almost over. Some were funny, some were touching, and some were ... weird.
ladamemardi's review against another edition
2.0
While being remarkably consistent in his beliefs, it gets tiring reading variations on the same subject: treating others with respect, which is an absolutely worthy goal. I'm a fan of his Twitter account, and would totally Sherpa him through any hard raid in Destiny (well, maybe not Oryx because that guy is a jerk), a whole book of him is a little much for one sitting.
reading_rainbow_with_chris's review against another edition
3.0
Taken as individual essays, Kluwe is thoughtful, funny, irreverent, and forthright (often simultaneously). Taken together however, the shtick begins to wear thin in essay after essay. There is not enough common theme to say it's a collection of topical essays and not enough humor to keep us engaged the whole way through. I think this was a good first attempt but he needs to narrow his topic range and find a more nuanced voice.
So why 3 stars? Because I still enjoyed it. And, for a 2013 publication, many of the topics and observations could have been written in direct response to the rising Trump Era. This is not a perfect book, but Kluwe did find particular and consistently relevant themes that make me think "OK, I want to hear more on this."
So why 3 stars? Because I still enjoyed it. And, for a 2013 publication, many of the topics and observations could have been written in direct response to the rising Trump Era. This is not a perfect book, but Kluwe did find particular and consistently relevant themes that make me think "OK, I want to hear more on this."
jbdunn's review against another edition
4.0
Recommended by Justin Dove
This was recommended during my 2014 Reading Challenge and I wasn't sure what this book was about (mostly because it was only introduced to me with "Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies"). I will admit that I judged the book by its cover/title. But I'm glad I *had* to read it because I really enjoyed Chris Kluwe's point of view, his irrelevant humor, and his refusal to sit back and let others be oppressed around him. The book is incredibly empathetic and speaks directly to the point on issues that I also care about in a voice that simultaneously makes me laugh and nod my head in agreement.
There are a couple of chapters that are very odd and I could have done without but maybe I just didn't get them.
This was recommended during my 2014 Reading Challenge and I wasn't sure what this book was about (mostly because it was only introduced to me with "Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies"). I will admit that I judged the book by its cover/title. But I'm glad I *had* to read it because I really enjoyed Chris Kluwe's point of view, his irrelevant humor, and his refusal to sit back and let others be oppressed around him. The book is incredibly empathetic and speaks directly to the point on issues that I also care about in a voice that simultaneously makes me laugh and nod my head in agreement.
There are a couple of chapters that are very odd and I could have done without but maybe I just didn't get them.
ennuihappyyet's review against another edition
4.0
Although I was initially charmed by his essays due to the novelty of such wit and reflection coming from a football player, I was soon taken by his attention to voice and careful logic. Sure, he repeats certain arguments a few times too many and his hipster-gamer mentality is occasionally worthy of an eye-roll, but he's just so damn earnest that you can't be mad at him. I tossed an extra star his way, by the way, for managing to make even his index into an unintentional gigglefest. Name another text in whose index you may find listed "douches and douchebags" with subcategories of "asshole fuckwits" and "dumb-asses, yourself and others"?
leakelley's review against another edition
5.0
I debated what to rate this. Some of the pieces aren't as good as others. The writing teacher in me wants to call some of the writing undisciplined and sit down for a writing conference with Chris Kluwe. At the same time, I stuck a dozen post-its in my copy to mark pages to revisit and to use with my students. The voice is terrific, and Kluwe has a curious mind. In the end, what I liked most about this book is its emphasis on empathy. Even when swearing up a storm, Kluwe never forgets that our world is made up of people. People read this book, people read newspaper editorials, people hear players and coaches and politicians says that those who are gay (or poor or female or whatever) are somehow less, and that REALLY pisses him off. He has my respect for that reason alone.
soless's review against another edition
2.0
Look, I love Chris Kluwe. He's a big old adorable dork and I enjoy seeing him on pretty much any show I've ever seen him on (mostly YouTube). He's a wonderful ally and an amazing celebrity who uses his status for the good. I love Chris Kluwe, but I don't love this book.
The op-ed reprints are solid, but while the issues are still relevant, the topics themselves are a little dated at this point. The pieces to and about his kids are touching, but the other pieces...well, look. I've got two degrees in English. I've written a shit ton of essays full of airy ideas that don't really add up to a lot once the dust clears.
I'd give these essays an A if I were teaching the classes they were turned into, but they just didn't go deep enough for my tastes. YMMV.
The op-ed reprints are solid, but while the issues are still relevant, the topics themselves are a little dated at this point. The pieces to and about his kids are touching, but the other pieces...well, look. I've got two degrees in English. I've written a shit ton of essays full of airy ideas that don't really add up to a lot once the dust clears.
I'd give these essays an A if I were teaching the classes they were turned into, but they just didn't go deep enough for my tastes. YMMV.