Eating the Dinosaur

By: Chuck Klosterman

Narrated by: Chuck Klosterman, Ira Glass, Errol Morris, Keith Nobbs, Travis Tonn, Emily Tremaine

Length: 6 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Chuck Klosterman has chronicled rock music, film, and sports for almost 15 years. He's covered extreme metal, extreme nostalgia, disposable art, disposable heroes, life on the road, life through the television, urban uncertainty, and small-town weirdness. Through a variety of mediums and with a multitude of motives, he's written about everything he can think of (and a lot that he's forgotten). The world keeps accelerating, but the pop ideas keep coming.

In Eating the Dinosaur, Klosterman is more entertaining and incisive than ever. Whether he's dissecting the boredom of voyeurism, the reason why music fan's inevitably hate their favorite band's latest album, or why we love watching can't-miss superstars fail spectacularly, Klosterman remains obsessed with the relationship between expectation, reality, and living history. It's amateur anthropology for the present tense, and sometimes it's incredibly funny.

©2009 Chuck Klosterman (P)2009 Simon & Schuster

Brilliant Way To Spend 6.5 Hours

Any additional comments?

My friends and I listened to this book on the way out to the cabin this year. I can honestly say that Eating The Dinosaur made it the most enjoyable car ride we've ever had.

Klosterman has the gift of being able to put what we are all secretly thinking into words. Usually that talent is reserved for brilliant comedians such as George Carlin or Jerry Seinfeld, but Chuck somehow manages to take it even one step further.

SPEND YOUR CREDIT ON THIS BOOK.

Funny, thought provoking, in the author's voice

Humorous and philosophical essays in Klosterman's own pop-culture-writ-large idiom. Read by the author himself, and in some cases by his interview subjects (Ira Glass, Errol Morris). It's strange and interesting to hear someone reading their own remarks after the fact. Overall enjoyable, and if you've liked Klosterman's previous works you won't be disappointed. Lost 1 star just for being regrettably short, and in need of some kind of cohesive narrative (although this might apply to all his essay collections).

Very Solid

This is some of Klosterman's best work. Like all his good audio books, it is read by the author. Highly recommend.

Probably my favorite audio book so far

What did you love best about Eating the Dinosaur?

I found this book by looking up Ira Glass in the Audible search engine, and I then found out Cuck Kosterman was part of bill simmon's grantland network. As I love both Simmons and This American Life, I figured I'd give this book a try. It turned out to be a great decision--this may be my favorite audio book so far. Klosterman is a strange mix of the two above mentioned fellows with a bit of gladwell. I think Klosterman's insights are more interesting than gladwell's and if you like his works, I'd think you'd like this book. I plan to read his entire canon.

Entertaining

Wasn't familiar with his work, so for a first listen it was good enough to consider another one of his books. While he's not a professional reader, it was his work, so the passion makes up for the polish.

Not great, but Chuck does make you think

This collection of essays is a bit of a hodgepodge of narratives on pop culture, technology, and Chuck's innate observations on everyday life. There isn't a clear flow to the stories, which is annoying but somewhat intriguing all at the same time. He discusses topics ranging from the Unabomber to football, ABBA to time travel, all the while adding his unique flair of witty hipster-nerd humor. It had me laughing out loud during some parts and zoning off uninterested during others. If nothing less, this book will get your thoughts going.

Interesting and thought provoking

Dissertations on twenty or so topics, like time travel, football, and laugh tracks. I learned and I thunk.(Of course, you can't be equally excited by each, but most were of interest to me. Solid.

My Favorite Author

I really love this book!!! Its one of my favorites!!!! Its funny witty and has a new perspective on looking at different situations!!!

Laugh-Out-Loud Hilarious

This book's only drawback, if it can be so considered, is its length. This would have been golden at twice the length! As it is, it's perfectly engaging, trademark Klosterman wit from start to finish.

Delightful neurotic

This book is a series of delightful neurotic NPR-esque essays that would be right at home on This American Life and they range from poignant to utterly pointless. Warning though: if you're not interested in one of his topics, eg pro sports, skip the chapter. This isn't Malcolm Gladwell who can make any topic relatable and that chapter will continue to bore you.