I picked up this book because she was mentioned as one of the 21st century’s hot new writers in another book I read recently, But What If We’re Wrong? by Chuck Klosterman. I’ve read several others of his rock criticism but aside from one chapter this isn’t about music. It’s basically his ramblings and philosophical musings on physics and literature and politics and stuff. Along the way he plays Joe Rogan to Neal deGrasse Tyson, David Byrne, Richard Linklater, and others, being open that he’s just an ordinary guy sometimes out of his depth. It’s engaging reading but honestly this book could’ve been a series of blog posts.

The chapter on music spends its time wondering which icon will be shorthand for rock music 100 or 500 years from now. He bets on the Beatles but if it comes down to one individual he weighs the merits of Elvis vs. Dylan: rock as showbiz or free spirited bohemia, noting that in Bob’s demerit that he never actually rocked. The Rolling Stones come into play as well, as the most iconic definition of a rock’n’roll band.

It’s an interesting question. I’m going to go with Elvis. Most of his actual music has been forgotten by today’s kids but his image lives on, and I don’t expect that to change any time soon. He’ll still be around a century from now. 500 years… maybe.