Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs by Chuck Klosterman
Published by Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster
In this collection of essays, Chuck Klosterman takes on pop culture like no one else can.
That is the shortest summary of all time, but how can one possibly summarize a book such as this? Klosterman’s essays cover a wide range of topics, but they are all pop culture related, and they all have his trademark wit and cynicism in common.
Honestly, this is not a book I would have picked up on my own. However, my friend Sara (hi, Sara!) suggested reading it, and even loaned me her copy, and when friends suggest books I always like to try them. Because honestly, I don’t have a whole lot of friends who are readers (besides bloggers, of course) so I always enjoy trading books with those few who are.
Having said that, I ended up enjoying this book more than I would have expected to. Chuck Klosterman is actually very funny, and his observations are just spot on. I found myself nodding in agreement with him throughout several of the essays and laughing out loud throughout some too. Some of the essays were a little dated, dealing with such topics as Saved by the Bell, the rivalry between Celtics and Lakers fans, Pamela Anderson, and the importance of The Empire Strikes Back, but as I am a child of the late ’80’s and ’90’s, I found myself really getting invested in these essays. I’d be interested to read a newer version of Klosterman’s thoughts on some of the current events happening today in pop culture, for sure.
I would definitely recommend Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs for the reader looking for an entertaining and witty essay collection. This book was a surprise for me, it wouldn’t have necessarily been my first pick for an essay collection, but I enjoyed it quite a bit!
Book Addiction 
I’ve wanted to read this collection for years now as I’ve heard nothing but good things about it! I picked up a more recent collection of his a month ago (?) but it sits on my shelf with many others. I’m a sucker for sales, what can I say?!
You should read it! I hope you enjoy if you do. 🙂
I liked this for the same reasons…if you grew up in the 80’s, there’s a lot to relate to! I haven’t picked up any of his other books yet, but he’s now on the “authors to remember” list.
For sure! I was born in 83 so the 90’s references were huge fore me! I’m totally an 80’s and 90’s kid. 🙂
My son read this for one of his freshman English classes and when he brought it home that summer, I read it too. I enjoyed it, but got a little tired of it before it was over.
Yes I can see how you might get tired of it. I read it only one essay at a time, really slowly, which worked very well.
*sigh* I missed out so much by not being allowed to watch TV when I was a kid. I never saw even a single episode of Saved by the Bell, and all those cultural references are completely lost on me.
aww that’s so sad! Although, you are probably infinitely smarter than me for not having rotted your child-brain with silly TV. 🙂
I have to admit that when I saw the title of your post I was thinking to myself what kind of book could this possibly be??? I love that it references the 80’s and 90’s! I graduated in 1987 so I’m sure I would be laughing through many of these essays. And just for the record, that rivalry started before the Lakes/Celtics. It became quite the thing when Michigan State (Magic Johnson) beat Indiana State U.(Larry Bird) in the NCAA championship game in 1979 (yes, I remember watching it as a kid!) All of us Michiganders thought the Celtics were big cry babies…most especially Larry Bird!! Oh the glory of those times!! 😀
LOL it sounds like you would love this book, Staci!
I’ve got it on my to-be-read bookshelf. I’ve owned it for months and haven’t read it yet, but I added it to my TBR Pile 2011 challenge, so hopefully I will be getting into it soon!
[…] Heather at Book Addiction enjoyed it, although she points out some of the subject matter is dated. Jess at Start Narrative Here finds Klosterman infuriating and overbearing. Softdrink at Fizzy Thoughts loved it, especially an essay on math. Angela at Books Under Skin finds herself constantly rereading it and loving it. […]