What We're Reading: The Nineties: A Book

Title: The Nineties: A Book
Author: Chuck Klosterman
Genres: history, essays
2022 Read Great Things Category(ies): A book with a number in the title; Blast from the past: A book of short stories or essays (2020); Our favorite category--A book on the Durham Tech Library Blog

This book was read by Main Campus Reference Librarian Stephen Brooks, who is still a playful, discouraged idealist. As such, this What We're Reading blog is less a review or summary of the book and more of a personal journey. I listened to an audiobook version of The Nineties, which is a collection of essays in approximately chronological order, over several weeks while commuting to Durham Tech, folding laundry, mowing the lawn and working in the kitchen.

Why did you choose to read this book?

Klosterman's essays on the music, politics, technology, media, social change, film and economy of the 1990s piqued my interest to look back on this dynamic decade.

As a dude born smack-dab in the middle of Generation X, as we would come to be known, the 1990s were my first full decade of adulthood. In some ways, I was the stereotypical Gen Xer: a former "latchkey kid," an early adopter of computer and eventually internet technology, with a liberal arts degree, for whom an authentic life was my chief purpose. I distrusted capitalism, religion, politicians and generally anyone who was intent on changing my mind for their own purposes. I had an acute sense of justice (or rather, injustice). I was pessimistic, sarcastic, in pursuit of authenticity I perceived to be in short supply and perfection that I didn't believe existed.

When I reflect on my favorite things from the '90s, I notice that there are threads of playfulness, irony, rejection of norms and forms, and an independent spirit. I met and fell in love with my future spouse; discovered my favorite musical group (Phish); my favorite movie was made (Pulp Fiction); my favorite book was written (Infinite Jest); and I started playing my favorite sport, which I still play (ultimate Frisbee).

What did you like about it?

I think the author is successful in putting the decade of the 1990s--at least in the United States--in historical perspective. The essays in the book feel personal, though they're not personal essays: Klosterman writes not as a neutral observer, but from his informed experience, having lived in and worked as a music, politics, fiction, technology and culture writer during the '90s. Listening to the audiobook, I found Klosterman's voice and accent distracting at times, but his reading his own essays lends authenticity to the experience. A lot of what he said resonated with me and evoked memories of events, even when I vehemently disagreed with some of his conclusions.

Is there anything noteworthy about the book?

Klosterman looks back on major events and attitudes from the decade, with a combination of having "been there" and the luxury of hindsight: the O.J. Simpson trial, the fall of the Soviet Union, the Columbine mass murder, Bill Clinton's impeachment, the growth of the internet, blaming young people for having no ambition, young people feeling ignored and unappreciated and also not wanting to be a "target demographic," etc.

Who else might like this book?

I think other members of Generation X; people curious about recent U.S. history; and fans of '90s music, TV and film would find something of interest in this book.

What would you pair the book with?

Here are some suggestions:

• r/GenX;
• Reading Infinite Jest, but only if you really want to, or a Douglas Coupland novel (I recommend Girlfriend in a Coma, even though Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture is the obvious choice), or 13th Gen: Abort, Retry, Ignore, Fail?;
• Watching a Quentin Tarantino movie from the decade; a Tim Robbins movie, especially Bob Roberts or The Player; or an extremely popular-but-not-necessarily-good '90s movie like Forrest Gump or Titanic;
• Watching Friday, Slackers or Reality Bites;
• Watching Friends or The Sopranos (bonus points if you watch one episode per week at the same time each week for the full '90s experience);
• Browsing the 1990s archives of Spin magazine;
• Listening to Body Count's first album (the original version, if you can find it); Nirvana's Nevermind; Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill; or an authorized audience recording of a concert by your favorite jam band;
• Telling people that Alanis Morissette's song "Ironic" is the most '90s thing ever, and is itself ironic for failing to understand irony;
• A road trip with a paper map;
• A mixtape; or
• Hanging out with a group of your good friends with no plans in particular.