My Mind on Shuffle

While it may be considered disingenious to so blatantly reveal my literary inspirations*, I would be remiss in not throwing a tip of the cap to Chuck Klosterman.

I first encountered Klosterman's work as a monthly contributor to Esquiremagazine.  His uber-witty essays on pop culture, modern post-modern philosophy**, and the world in general.  I found his writing to be wry, insightful and intelligent.  Basically, he appeared to be thinking about and writing about the very things which I tried to claim that I thought about, or aspired to think about****.

At about the same time I was first being exposed to his writing, I was wandering through B&N looking for books that seemed mildly interesting when I ran across a book entitled Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs*****.  I didn't immediately make the connection between the author and the Esquire columnist.  More due to the fact that I wasn't paying attention than the fact that I couldn't put two and two together that these were both authored by the same Chuck Klosterman.  Today I started reading this book for the fourth time or so.  It's brilliant.  Period.  Klosterman gives a unique view of pretty universal subjects that are perfectly aimed at our generation (like how I assumed we're all of the same generation?  Seriously though who else reads these things.  Incidentally, what is this generation?  I kind of lump all of XYZ together, late Gen Xers, Gen Y-my actual designated generation, and early Gen Z.  The only ones with cool names are the Baby Boomers and Gen X.  Although I don't really think that something properly descriptive like, The Douchebags or The Obnoxiously Ironic really have a good ring to them.).

I think I got somewhat sidetracked in there.  The basic point of this train-wreck is that you should get this book and read it.  It will make you a better person.

*By "inspirations" I clearly mean "people whose style I rip off", including the footnote gimmick, although I've been a footnote fan for a long time.

**A term I have just coined.***  Modern post-modern is not only self-aware, but takes an ironic or self-mocking angle on this self-awareness.  Use it with your friends, it'll totally catch on.

***Are you allowed to footnote a footnote?  At any rate, I'm also in the process of popularizing the terms "Big Gulp" and "Slurpee" as oral sex euphemisms.

****As opposed to my more common topics of deep thought: what do I want for lunch today or who do I drop from my fantasy team when Todd Helton comes off the DL.

*****Now I see why numbers are a more common footnote format, I really can't stretch it to six stars next time can I?******  What I came down here to mention thought, was that I completely judge books by their cover/title.  When I'm perusing the bookshelves, how else do I know what's good?  A clever or provocative title goes a long way with me.

******Apparently I can.