AOL to ‘American Beauty’: Chuck Klosterman’s book looks at 1990s

“Some people who read it would be … people who literally lived through it and … became of age. There are also people born into the 90s or after who will see the book purely as exposition, information about something they once heard about. And there are people older ... who remember the 90s as maybe another interchangeable decade where the world seemed to get worse,” says author Chuck Klosterman.

“Some people who read it would be … people who literally lived through it and … became of age. There are also people born into the 90s or after who will see the book purely as exposition, information about something they once heard about. And there are people older ... who remember the 90s as maybe another interchangeable decade where the world seemed to get worse,” says author Chuck Klosterman. Photo by Brian Hardzinski/KCRW.

The 1990s was a decade of dial-up internet, compact discs, and Hollywood favorites such as “American Beauty” and “Friends.” Chuck Klosterman’s new book unpacks it all. 

Amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, China is trying to thread a needle between its close military and economic ties with Vladimir Putin’s country, and its much bigger economic interests in the U.S. and Europe.

Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok have banned two of Russia’s most popular news outlets across Europe. Apple suspended sales of all of its products in Russia.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recently told state officials to start classifying medical treatments for transgender kids as child abuse. It’s one of many efforts in red states to restrict LGBTQ youth’s rights. 

From this Episode:

Credits

Host:

Madeleine Brand

Producers:

Sarah Sweeney, Angie Perrin, Michell Eloy, Amy Ta, Brian Hardzinski, Bennett Purser, Marcelle Hutchins, Robin Estrin