That’s a terrible question that gives
me spiritual anxiety. But to get right down to it, I’m just someone who loves
culture. I’m fascinated by why people do the things they do, from ethics to
aesthetics. As a music journalist, I have interviewed everyone from local bands
to Grammy award-winning artists for publications like Alternative Press,
Kerrang!, Revolver, and Loudwire. My work as a freelance
entertainment writer carried me to other types of lifestyle writing, including
food and travel. I am a regular contributor for Reader’s Digest.
I wrote...
From the Basement: A History of Emo Music and How It Changed Society
By
Taylor Markarian
What is my book about?
From the Basement is part narrative, part oral history.
It weaves my personal journey as a lover of emo music with the confessions of
the musicians themselves. It explores what was at once the most mocked and
adored genre, as well as its wider societal implications regarding subjects
like mental health and toxic masculinity. Spanning 1980s hardcore through present-day emo rap, this book features interviews with Minor Threat, Taking
Back Sunday, Dashboard Confessional, Saves the Day, and more.
It is a
passionate analysis of how pop culture affects deeper aspects of our lives, as
told from the point of view of someone who has suffered from depression.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
The Books I Picked & Why
Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk
By
Legs McNeil,
Gillian McCain
Why this book?
This oral history gets in at the ground
floor of 1960s proto-punk and chronicles how it led to the infamous punk bands
of the 1970s. Written and recorded by Punk Magazine founder Legs McNeil,
this book gives you a front-row seat to the exploits of New York Dolls, David
Bowie, and Sex Pistols. It is incredibly genuine in the way it captures the
flippant and belligerent attitudes of the era. It’s witty and it’s gritty, which
are the two requirements of excellent journalism.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
American Hardcore: A Tribal History
By
Steven Blush
Why this book?
American Hardcore is like the more aggressive cousin to Please
Kill Me. While the latter is more of a narrative, American Hardcore
is an audiophile’s masterpiece. It catalogs the evolution of hardcore music
from coast to coast: its code of ethics, bloody brawls, and unrelenting spirit.
It is as much a compilation of photographs and shows flyers as it is in interviews,
providing a bird’s-eye view of the subculture. I appreciate this book for its
scope and its commitment to documentation.
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The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band
By
Tommy Lee,
Mick Mars,
Vince Neil,
Nikki Sixx,
Neil Strauss
Why this book?
This is the off-the-wall, outrageous
rock n’ roll autobiography that satisfies your guilty pleasures. It’s the
insider story of Mötley Crüe’s ultimate rock star life that is at once
disgusting, exciting, and freeing. Post up on a beach somewhere with this whirlwind
tour diary for a fun afternoon of sex and drugs.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
By
Hunter S. Thompson
Why this book?
Speaking of drugs, let’s talk about
Hunter S. Thompson. For me, this seminal work rooted in 1960s counter culture
is more about how to write like yourself than a misguided road trip on drugs.
Thompson’s voice is so uniquely brazen; he writes his story with the same
grittiness that the best rock autobiographies possess. It’s an amazing example
of how much a journalist can insert himself into the topic he’s covering. It
breaks the cardinal rule of objective journalism, but in doing so, tells a true
story of its own.
When you buy a book we may earn a small commission.
Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto
By
Chuck Klosterman
Why this book?
Culture critic Chuck Klosterman is
essentially the next-gen Hunter S. Thompson. This book is a stream of
consciousness foray into contemporary pop culture, ranging from essays on
sports to music to reality TV. It’s an odd, brilliant, self-indulgent take on
the American zeitgeist. Feel smart and have a laugh at the same time.
