1. Reak Kovacs - January 24, 2010

   *rolls eyes* could not even finish this book. One of the worst books I have ever picked up.
   Rating: 1 / 5

2. R. Karimi - January 24, 2010

   After scouring the paperback table for a few minutes, this book caught my eye and from the quick read off the jacket I was interested. Now, however, just three chapters in, I wish I kept my receipt.

   This book has no plot or story and is nothing more than the ramblings of an anybody slacker ranting about inane pop culture garbage, how he can’t get laid, and most dissappointingly, sheds no light on already overworked topics. At best, this book sounds like blogspeak, which is hardly worth your money.

   For example, there’s an entire chapter devoted to the ‘TheSims’ followed by a chapter where the author expounds on his keen [sarcasm] insight regarding MTV’s ‘The Real World’.

   He speaks with a know-nothing-know-it-all bravado but worst of all, his observations are tame and boring. Don’t bother.
   Rating: 1 / 5

3. Royal Tenenbaum - January 24, 2010

   Chuck Klosterman, unlike most people *celebrates* his lack of insight. There is nothing ironic about the subtitle, “A Low Culture Manifesto”.
   What he tries to do / does:
   * He tries to examine pop-culture phenomena (any piece of trash that trickled its way to him) in a ‘postmodern’ light or in a ‘philosophy for shallow people’ way – except if submitted for a college assignment, he would fail (because of plagiarism). There are no new ideas: It is a rehash of a particularly bad reading of ideas put fort by Baudrillard (about 30 years before Chuck wrote this book) and other culture theorists (post modern or not). It is quite formulaic: Throw in references to ‘authentic’ crap of later half american pop culture, mix it with punch-line pseudo-pseudo-intellectual ‘philosophy’, swear around, make sex/drug jokes, finish essay (not nec. in that order)
   * …or he simply lauds certain trash, for no good reason apart from “I like it, it is not cool, it is not even uncool, hence it is great, so I like it”. He is pride of being an edgy, authentic hick, of being uncool, and shallow. Admitting, or being pride of mediocrity is used as an excuse, and justification, for his utter lack of insight.
   *He also comments on women (girls, chicks, and more – he has a particularly well-developed vocabulary of ‘bad’ terms for women) and is somewhat proud of his unjustified, ignorant sexism. He announced that no woman will ever satisy him (as if that is what women are for, satisfying men, thanks for letting us know, Chuck). He is somewhat obsessed with little girls, little boys, and little children in general, bordering on the pathological, which is very disturbing.
   Conclusion
   It is not even funny. It is a complete waste of your time and money. If you enjoy watching thousands of hours of reality TV, this book is just for you. It is not a manifesto of low culture, it is not even low culture, the book is just parasitic, insincere. The author is not only conceited, but is one of the most profoundly dumb writers I’ve ever read. Read at your own risk.
   Rating: 1 / 5

4. ak1982 - January 24, 2010

   I heard rave reviews about this book so I went out and bought it. Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs? Who WOULDN’T like a book with a title like that? ::raises hand:: I thought it was awful. If you like pop-culture, you might like this book. I like pop-culture, however, I thought this book was so boring and pointless that I couldn’t read past the first few chapter. So, take my review for what it is — a review by someone who hasn’t completely read the book, but was bored to death by the beginning.
   Rating: 1 / 5

5. Craig Johnson - January 24, 2010

   What a load. This book of essays is simply a series of complaints about things that the author has spent way too much time thinking about. If you want to read a book about the whiny complaints of someone that watches television too much, and thinks he’s better than you for it, this book is for you. Otherwise, you’re better off hanging out at the local pub with a pint (or other choice beverage) arguing/complaining about how Puck tried to change the face of reality TV.
   Rating: 1 / 5

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