In Critical Mass James Wolcott directs us to the intellectuals, entertainers, performers, and/or celebrities who have graced, cursed, or captivated him ever since he quit Frostburg State and hit Woody's Manhattan.
Any reader of Alexander Theroux will not endure him long if he or she lacks delight in satire, denigration, and "snobservation": that term appears in his first paragraph as fair warning.
As a diligent guide through psychedelia in theory and practice, Patrick Lundborg moves forward in time and space. But like his swirling subject, he cannot help pursuing byways, tracking trains of thought, and wandering off on rewarding detours.
Meltzer clearly loves the '90s, and her mix of nostalgia and in-depth research make this an entertaining read for anyone interested in a decade that seems like it happened both a long time ago, and just yesterday.
Whether intentionally spiritual or not, popular culture and its products serve many of the same drives of religion: making meaning and forging the bonds of community.
