WHILE THIS is probably Klosterman's most ambitious and relevant book, it is also one of his least interesting. Rather than a standard collection of esWHILE THIS is probably Klosterman's most ambitious and relevant book, it is also one of his least interesting. Rather than a standard collection of essays, bound together by a common theme (such as time travel in "Eating the Dinosaur") this is just one long essay that posits: what cultural phenomena will humans change their minds about in the future?
A very insightful premise, but the only chapter where I felt I was reading genuine Klosterman was one on television: he posits that while reading books and listening to music can't really change, TV consumption has and will.
Worth a read -- maybe I need to read it again -- but certainly not as good as some of the rest of his canon. His Kloster-non. ...more
It seems an unfortunate fact that the lovable and talented Ms. Poehler -- whether it's following her at the Weekend Update chair, only getting a cameoIt seems an unfortunate fact that the lovable and talented Ms. Poehler -- whether it's following her at the Weekend Update chair, only getting a cameo in her career-making Mean Girls, playing an OK Hillary Clinton to her campaign-altering Sarah Palin, or starring in the good Parks and Rec instead of the superlative 30 Rock -- will always be an "also ran" compared to Tina Fey. Alas such is the case for Poehler's Yes, Please, which reads nowhere near as breezily or as humorously as Fey's Bossypants. Indeed Fey's chapter on Poehler is more engaging than Poehler's book about herself.
The book starts with an immediately off-putting discourse on the writing process, a self indulgence that invariably telegraphs the writer is unaccustomed to her craft. What followed were some fairly unimaginative observations about body image issues and what followed that was my hitting "skip."
The chapter on Parks and Rec was endearing and fun, but too short. The chapter on divorce was candid, wry, and appropriately melancholy -- like a prose version of ABBA's The Winner Takes It All.
Even more than Bossypants, the book reminded me of Leonard Nimoy's I Am Spock, where the writer humbly acknowledges that his reader is more interested in HIS WORK than in HIM. Nimoy peppers his text with Spock references throughout, rather than just in the Star Trek chapters. Poehler is a public figure because of Leslie Knope and Saturday Night Live -- that what we want to read about, ma'am.
While I continue to be a fan of Ms. Poehler, Yes, Please left me only saying Sure Why Not....more
I whizzed through this in about a week and a half. Magnificent second installment - builds on the pervious story while telling its own, bigger tale. SI whizzed through this in about a week and a half. Magnificent second installment - builds on the pervious story while telling its own, bigger tale. Some say the first is better, but I think those reviews are from Harry Potter fans who prefer the more "grown up Hogwarts" feel of the first one, whereas this is more a straight fantasy adventure.
Excellent deconstruction of fantasy tropes while still telling its own fantasy story -- kind of like Galaxy Quest does with sci-fi. The concurrent storylines dovetail nicely toward the climax.
This was excellent. It sets itself up as the anti-Harry Potter, but then zags to be the anti-something else entirely. There are enough metatextual refThis was excellent. It sets itself up as the anti-Harry Potter, but then zags to be the anti-something else entirely. There are enough metatextual references to make it feel real, but not so many it feels derivative.
Do you wish you had magic? With this book you do: the magic of imagination.*
*Note: not as good as actual magic, but still OK. ...more
Probably the best book I have ever read -- no, not probably: definitely. Reading this book is like celebrating the Fourth of July on Christmas while eProbably the best book I have ever read -- no, not probably: definitely. Reading this book is like celebrating the Fourth of July on Christmas while eating birthday cake. It will probably have a more profound influence on mankind than the Bible. If you read only one book this year, make it this one. ...more
Fantastic, innovative take on the super-hero genre. One of the strengths of a third-tier hero like Hawkeye is you can experiment with him -- and FractFantastic, innovative take on the super-hero genre. One of the strengths of a third-tier hero like Hawkeye is you can experiment with him -- and Fraction / Aja's experiment is a resounding success. In fact, you could say they ... hit the bull's eye.
Also the scene where AIM is trying to teleport 5th Avenue into the sun is funny too. [SPOILER ALERT] Their plan is foiled. ...more
A fascinating insight into how "sausage is made" in Hollywood -- unlike a TV show, where the demand for so much content is so high, the screenwriter sA fascinating insight into how "sausage is made" in Hollywood -- unlike a TV show, where the demand for so much content is so high, the screenwriter seems to have no shortage of interference for a feature film, as Piller demonstrates as he discusses the writing of Star Trek: Insurrection. Budgetary demands, focus groups, producers, actors, etc. etc. all weigh in.
Sadly, this book is more interesting than the actual movie ever was. ...more
Interesting book about the relationship between two men who shared a 20 year political partnership AND family (I had forgotten that Nixon's daughter mInteresting book about the relationship between two men who shared a 20 year political partnership AND family (I had forgotten that Nixon's daughter married Ike's grandson). Also a good summary of how different politics were in the 50s compared to now (ie back when conventions and newspaper editorial boards mattered).
The book is less succinct than it could have been (as is the case with most non-fiction books). And Nixon kind of overwhelms the narrative (as Nixon is wont to do). Its final thesis is that Eisenhower was Nixon's conscience and, had he not died so early, Nixon might have avoided the political corruption that brought him down.
Is that true? Was Eisenhower the hero who saved his own administration from a politically forward-thinking, yet morally vacuous, vice president? I really can't say. But yes. ...more
Magnificent chronicle of The House of Ideas rise and fall ... and rise ... and fall again ... and rise to the top. Can't recommend enough to any fan -Magnificent chronicle of The House of Ideas rise and fall ... and rise ... and fall again ... and rise to the top. Can't recommend enough to any fan -- or if you will, any True Believer. ...more
Great summary of the rise and fall of various powers throughout history -- gives really nice summaries of the Romans, the Chinese, etc.
The most interGreat summary of the rise and fall of various powers throughout history -- gives really nice summaries of the Romans, the Chinese, etc.
The most interesting chapter was on the rise and fall of California, a state whose economy dwarfs most nations but has been run into the ground by political mismanagement.
While not Gladwell's best work, it's still a fun read. Heartily recommend it and look forward to hearing people quote it in Sunday School. While not Gladwell's best work, it's still a fun read. Heartily recommend it and look forward to hearing people quote it in Sunday School. ...more
Wanted to reread this after seeing Chuck speak in DC:
I don't like this book as much as I did when I first reaWanted to reread this after seeing Chuck speak in DC:
I don't like this book as much as I did when I first read it, but I can more clearly recognize it now (with the benefit of hindsight of course) how integral this was to Chuck's development as a writer (and dare I say as an individual?).
With this book he purges himself of a lot of his puerile music obsession and notions of romance. Everything he's done after this floats like a butterfly -- but this was the cocoon.
I enjoyed it, particularly all the stuff about politics he mentions. There's a bit wMy review in Utah Policy:
I enjoyed it, particularly all the stuff about politics he mentions. There's a bit where he's referencing Lewinski coming on to Bill Clinton by showing him her underwear or something and Klosterman writes, "This is promising, Clinton must have thought." Hilarious understatement.
Were I to rank CK's book's so far ...
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Downtown Owl Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs Eating the Dinosaur I Wear the Black Hat Killing Yourself to Live Chuck Klosterman IV Fargo Rock City Visible Man
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