I Wear the Black Hat

Grappling with Villains (Real and Imagined)

By: Chuck Klosterman

Narrated by: Chuck Klosterman

Length: 7 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

From New York Times best-selling author, "one of America's top cultural critics" (Entertainment Weekly), and "The Ethicist" for The New York Times Magazine, comes a new book of all original pieces on villains and villainy.

Chuck Klosterman has walked into the darkness. As a boy, he related to the cultural figures who represented goodness - but as an adult, he found himself unconsciously aligning with their enemies. This was not because he necessarily liked what they were doing; it was because they were doing it on purpose (and they were doing it better). They wanted to be evil. And what, exactly, was that supposed to mean? When we classify someone as a bad person, what are we really saying (and why are we so obsessed with saying it)?

In I Wear the Black Hat, Klosterman questions the very nature of how modern people understand the concept of villainy. What was so Machiavellian about Machiavelli? Why don't we see Batman the same way we see Bernhard Goetz? Who's more worthy of our vitriol - Bill Clinton or Don Henley? What was O.J. Simpson's second-worst decision? And why is Klosterman still obsessed with some kid he knew for one week in 1985?

Masterfully blending cultural analysis with self-interrogation and limitless imagination, I Wear the Black Hat delivers perceptive observations on the complexity of the anti-hero (seemingly the only kind of hero America still creates). I Wear the Black Hat is the rare example of serious criticism that's instantly accessible and really, really funny. Klosterman is the only writer doing whatever it is he's doing.

©2013 Chuck Klosterman (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

Appreciating Chuck more and more

From a disliked guest on the BS report to a personal favorite and appreciated story teller. Chuck Klosterman has finally won me over with his humorous and thought provoking examples from pop culture, music, history, and sports to make bigger points on life. Sometimes you're not sure where he is going to land the plane at the early stages of each chapter, but by the end he always finds a way to do so.

Chuck kicks ass

see subject. look up there. do it. come on look up there please. do it.

i am 5 years to young

I enjoy his work but a lot if it reflects upon things before my time (i was born in 85). I still very much enjoy his works though

Picture Chuck, leaning back with his feet on his desk

Arms folded behind his head, as you listen to this.

Overall, this was a pretty good book. Not as cutting as his earlier works, but well worth the listen if dissecting pop culture and the human condition around being a villain is your thing.

A book for people who think too much

If U are a person who is constantly thinking & than find yourself thinking about your thinking than I would recommend this book for you.
I did not find this book annoying and the topic of the book is intriguing. Worth checking out

Not for me! I need to get more & be motivated.

Seems this author has written something he wants to listen to but doesn't care if anyone else is motivated to listen.

Pop Culture Romp

Enjoyed all the story telling and funny moments about villains of recent history. Looking forward to reading more books by the author

kill me

if this heaping load of garbage can get published I'm clearly in the wrong business

boring and self indulgent

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

i wish it was interesting and not about 90's pop culture.

What do you think your next listen will be?

something fictional.

Would you be willing to try another one of Chuck Klosterman’s performances?

never

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

boredom and irritation

Any additional comments?

i truly uninteresting book, i had high hopes for it, but wow, it sucked. Perhaps if i was passionately opinionated about pop music or found this obnoxious author engaging and clever as he thinks he is... no probably not

Not Gladwell-like

I heard this author's work was like Malcolm Gladwell's. I don't think it is. It just felt like random thoughts