The Man in the Mirror

I've been reading a lot of self-reflecting books lately. This hasn't been on purpose, it's just sort of worked out that way. They say these things happen in threes, and it appears that they are right. Exhibit A:

This book is about many things, but it is written by Dave Eggers and any book written by Dave Eggers is inherently about Dave Eggers. This is not a criticism. It really never comes off as self-absorbed or egocentric when Dave Eggers does it. He is an incredible writer. One of the best I have ever read. The inside of his head may be the most interesting place on the planet, which is one of the reasons he is able to get away with writing about himself so much. I've also read

David Sedaris may be one of the funniest people ever. And, I just found out, he attended WCU for like half a semester before dropping out and transferring to Kent State. I don't have a lot in common with David Sedaris. His family is way more messed up than mine. I'm not gay. I have never penned a best-selling novel. I would never live in Paris. Basically, we're both from North Carolina (although, to be fair, he's from Raleigh which might as well be in another universe from Sylva). He really has a way of connecting with his reader, though, and I really started to feel like I was very much like Davis Sedaris by the end of the book which is not even remotely true. That is why he is a good writer and that is why everyone should read this book. I'm glad Ivey let me borrow it. Now we move on to the third portion of my self-obsessed trifecta of writers. He's probably not the best at it (Dave Eggers might as well write his stuff as he strolls across the nearest lake or river) and he doesn't like Jim Morrison. He's one of those guys that can make you feel inadequate if you don't share the same taste in obscure 80's pop music. Did I mention he has an acute hatred of Jim Morrison? Normally this would bother me, but I've got to look past it because this

is already on my top ten favorite books of all time and climbing fast. I feel like I read it in about five minutes. I could not put it down. Chuck Klosterman was already one of my favorite writers. I've probably read "Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs" fifteen times. He's great when he's commenting on pop culture, but he really took it to another level with this candid look into his personal life. The pop culture stuff is still there in spades, but it's the "High Fidelity" aspect of the book that really hooked me and kept me quickly turning the pages. Please read this book. It doesn't get any better than this. So, all of this has led me here:

Yes, that's Robert Downey Jr. And I'm sure you're wondering (and rightfully so) how these three books led to Robert Downey Jr. I will tell you. It's the combination of a late night, soul-searching phone conversation, the forced self-reflection of the aforementioned books, and, possibly, the fact that I went to see "Tropic Thunder" tonight (which is freaking awesome by the way). You see, guys like Robert Downey Jr. are my favorite kind of guys. Guys who have it all, but for some reason or another just can't quite get it together enough to lead a normal life. It fascinates me to no end to see these guys blow it when they have it made. Well, that sounds terrible. I don't necessarily want to see them fail, I'm actually pulling hard for them. It's just that the propensity to blow it all is what makes them so damn interesting in the first place. People like Downey (huge drug problem), Charlie Sheen (drugs, hookers) and Jim Morrison (wasted talent, drugs, early death) seem so much more real than all the other cookie cutter celebrities. I feel like I can see a little of myself in them. Not so much in the money or looks department, just the propensity to self-destruct. There are a long list of things in my life that I feel I have deliberately sabatoged in one way or another so that things did not go smoothly and I would seem more interesting. I do this with school, work, relationships........my idiocy often knows no bounds. I like to think that I don't ever work on a novel because of this and that I can really finish one whenever I want. This is probably not even close to being true as I am sure that I am now romanticizing this entire situation as it applies to these guys and then trying desperately to apply it to my own life so that I have a built-in excuse for when I fail at something. In reality, I'm probably just too lazy to complete a novel. Self-sabotage just seems so much more damned interesting than lazy as hell. I've got to start getting some sleep.