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bgeorgiev's review against another edition
4.0
Another great book by Klosterman. A quick and entertaining read full of interesting tidbits. Love the guy!
skepticcurmudgeon's review against another edition
2.0
His thesis is flawed, which is that the villain is the one who knows the most but cares the least. Almost all the figures he puts up as villains are merely unpopular or maybe annoying at worst, but do not come close to rising to the level of villainy. Of the 2 examples cited that are villains, they don't meet his stated definition. Also he has the unpleasant habit of expressing his opinions as uncontested generally accepted beliefs. In short this book was full of unrealized possibilities. Why can evil be seductive? Why are we drawn to the antihero? Instead we get endless droning about the band the Eagles or Andrew Dice Clay -- irritating maybe, villains? No way.
mslenakay's review against another edition
3.0
Realistically I'd give this a 2.5... I didn't feel like I took anything away from this the way I did with other books I read by him.
There was also an error that drove me crazy and it definitely distracted me right out of the book for a while. Referring to Robert
Kardashian, O.J. Simpson's lawyer and father of the Kardashian children including Kim, by the wrong name (Richard) felt so wrong. This author knows his pop culture. I'm upset that I even mentioned this family, especially her, in a book review, but they're prominent in pop culture today and I would have thought that Chuck Klosterman would have gotten this detail correct. I found that error so distracting that it was hard to bounce back.
There was also an error that drove me crazy and it definitely distracted me right out of the book for a while. Referring to Robert
Kardashian, O.J. Simpson's lawyer and father of the Kardashian children including Kim, by the wrong name (Richard) felt so wrong. This author knows his pop culture. I'm upset that I even mentioned this family, especially her, in a book review, but they're prominent in pop culture today and I would have thought that Chuck Klosterman would have gotten this detail correct. I found that error so distracting that it was hard to bounce back.
ptothelo's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting premise, ok book. Although I did finish it, I basically read it a couple of pages at a time without feeling like I really need to sit down and dive into it.
ryanv9961's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
fast-paced
3.0
Klosterman, while introducing very good ideas, fails to do so in a non tone-deaf way
redinteeth's review against another edition
2.0
2.5
Disjointed. Doesn't quite make an argument.
Interesting but not memorable.
I'm bummed because I wanted to like this.
Disjointed. Doesn't quite make an argument.
Interesting but not memorable.
I'm bummed because I wanted to like this.
ichabodcrane's review against another edition
2.0
And, so begins the cross continental book club linking DC and LA.