I think people feel very comfortable reviewing the idea of me, as opposed to what I've actually written. Most of the time, when people write about one of my books, they're really just writing about what they think I may or may not represent, as sort of this abstract entity. Is that unfair? Not really. If I put myself in this position where I'm going to kind of weave elements of memoir into almost everything, well, I suppose that's going to happen.
Chuck KlostermanWe are often wrong about the past, but at least with the past you can change your thinking. We can't do that with the future.
Chuck KlostermanIf youโre the type of person who wants to associate exclusively with those who perfectly mirror your own ethical worldview, youโre reducing significantly the scope of your potential life experience.
Chuck KlostermanThe problem a lot of writers have is that they really enjoy people saying, "You're brilliant." They let their self-perception be dictated by reader response. But if you're going to let other people make you feel good, you're going to end up feeling bad when they say the opposite. You've got to be a cultural stoic. Then you won't be devastated by people who respond negatively. Of course, the downside is that it sort of stops you from being able to enjoy people liking your work.
Chuck KlostermanAmericans have become conditioned to believe the world is a gray place without absolutes; this is because weโre simultaneously cowardly and arrogant. We donโt know the answers, so we assume they must not exist. But they do exist. They are unclear and/or unfathomable, but theyโre out there. Andโperhaps surprisinglyโthe only way to find those answers is to study NBA playoff games that happened twenty years ago. For all practical purposes, the voice of Brent Musburger was the pen of Ayn Rand.
Chuck Klosterman