Sexy Drugs and Coco Puffs

Eric Davila Bº


“Sex, Drugs and Coco Puffs”


This book is a collaboration of essays by the precocious unknown yet known author named Chuck Klosterman. His essays examine contemporary controversies of Americans and events that have occurred. Not only are the essays a great comical read, but the way they are laid out and organized recommend that Klosterman sees it fit to view American culture as many soundtracks in a CD of life. As in any CD trying to be at the top of the charts, it must be filled with captivating rhythm and words able to capture the listeners attention and make them recognize the true intention of the song. In Sex, Drugs and Coco Puffs, the true intentions are to make people aware of the issues regarding the media, pop icons, politics, race, clichés and morality. These ideas are found in his essays and are deeply analyzed; raising many questions that not only invite, but challenge the reader to decide a personal opinion. To criticize a man who criticizes for a living is no easy task, especially if the criticizer is Chuck Klosterman, what makes him so good? This is simple, the reason he is so awesomely entertaining is because you can pick up this book open it to any page and laugh out loud in any environment. Some people like Brian Houle, a writer for about.com, have found this to be untrue and state “Like most collections of short stories or essays, Chuck Klosterman struggles to maintain a consistent level of quality throughout the book.” This statement is his opinion and I respect it, but I disagree. In this novel he thoroughly presents the facts in an unnoticed strategically way that leads to an explosive taste of sweetness.
With Klosterman’s collaboration of essays packaged separately there is no apparent theme of the overall book. This is a random burst of explications of random everyday things that sometimes lack attention from us busy people or in some cases get too much attention. These random essays are what keep the reader on edge and eager to find out what witty comical thing Klosterman will say next. For example, in chapter 9, a clever title called Porn, gives the reader expectations or feelings about what the chapter will include. Yet, he doesn’t go off on experiences or explain dirty sexy things, but instead uses the facts of internet porn to show us Americans about how much time we spend on Porn. He states that “97 percent of the internet is porn” and also relates that we are so full of ourselves that we get into a harmful cycle of addiction. His analysis of a subject ends up really being an analysis of who we are and who we want to be. It tests the reader to judge them and have the option of changing or improving themselves. His literature puts the reader into a hypnotic state that allows the reader to secrete themselves into any place and leave into a different world. When you are in this world the only logical thing to do is to start analyzing the previous life settings and see where you want to be in the future.
Other chapters like “Toby over Moby” discuss country music and how people who say they like all genres of music except country to seem cool are fake and need to own up to the reality of country being the original song storytelling. Then there are chapters like
Then aside from music, he has a chapter called, “George Will vs. Nick Hornby” which discusses soccer the most popular sport in the world not catching on in America. Is it that we find ourselves in so much need to take the road less taken that we seclude ourselves from international joys? Then he has chapters like “When Happens When People Stop Being Polite” that talks about reality television and how it was the only thing that captured our viewing time for the year of 2005. This book is so random, comical, and deep witted that I feel like Klosterman just told stories about his conversations that he had when out with his buddies under the influence. Sex, Drugs and Coco Puffs was a great read that I recommend to all curiously aroused by modern culture and where it is leading to.