A Fan’s Notes

Chuck Klosterman achieved cult star status in the early aughts by virtue of his pop-philosophical polemics on mainstream American culture. His subjects ranged from glam metal to John Cusack to Phil Jackson’s triangle offense, and his accessible eclecticism catapulted him into “the select and successful canon of reading for people who do not read,” according to Mark Greif. Klosterman started as a rock critic at Spin, later contributing to ESPN’s bloggy, irreverent offshoots Page 2 and Grantland (RIP). He became official Dorm-Room Philosopher Laureate in 2003, upon the release of Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto, which, at least from this ’90s-baby’s perch, seemed geared towards a certain strain of pop culture–conversant slacker coming of age on equal parts Primus, Clerks, and early-internet porn. “Do you think a girl has ever read one of your things?” Adam Friedland asked Klosterman in a recent interview. “It’s a little bit like being in Rush,” Klosterman replied. (The answer felt personally indicting: I spent the better part of eighth-grade spring break learning the bassline to Rush’s “Limelight.”)