Book Review: Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs
A Low Culture Manifesto

By Bora Rhee

Armed with a formidable knack for coming up with catchy one-liners like "No woman will ever satisfy me" (for which he starts off the first chapter) and "I'm having a crisis of confidence, and I blame Jesus," one has to wonder what author Chuck Klosterman is writing about. I mean, how can you not read something that starts with "When exactly did every housewife in America become a whore?"

Formerly of "Fargo Rock City" (his first book) fame, Klosterman is a senior writer for SPIN magazine and has written for various publications such as The New York Times Magazine, GQ, and The Washington Post. Most recently, his journalistic talent and clever interview skills are featured in the notorious Esquire interview with Britney Spears. Yep – the one where she forgot to put on her pants – or anything for that matter.

When I first picked up Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs, my only knowledge of Klosterman at that point was from reading his Britney Spears interview. Even then, I thought he was like any other journalist. But his prose and style was distinctively different - he had chutzpah – accompanied with a dose of unprecedented daringness. Klosterman has qualities that are not common in today's journalism and media. He is not out to please anyone. He performs his journalistic duties well. He doesn't concern himself with asking "proper" questions and being polite. He allows his curious and precocious nature to dictate what he wants to ask, thank you very much.

Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs is a collection of essays – a vast one at that – nearly covering three decades of American pop culture. Klosterman's scope is extensive and eclectic. Re-living the 1970s and onwards, he writes about everything from John Cusack to Billy Joel to Pamela Anderson and Marilyn Monroe. He analyzes the significance of Saved by the Bell, The Dixie Chicks, Madonna, Tom Cruise and breakfast cereal (the sugary kind). The basis for his essays stems from his own experiences and thoughts; you can call it an autobiography of sorts. Though slightly (if by slightly I mean totally) neurotic and cynical, Klosterman infuses a hefty dose of sarcastic humor that ignites bouts of laughter.

Critical reviews for Klosterman's Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs range from acclaim to disdain. I personally enjoyed it, perhaps because I found Klosterman's wit to be entertaining and surprisingly knowledgeable. Although some of his essays seemed misplaced, this book will definitely appeal to readers out there who can't get enough of pop this and pop that. If you're into the politics of popular culture in America, or if you're simply a fan of witty self-deprecating humor, Klosterman is your guy. He reveals the inner layers of media culture in a new light and analyses its role in people's lives and their subsequently distorted perceptions. 'Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs' is a satirical take on pop culture and its associations. Full of opinions, I found myself making many more of my own.

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