Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies: On Myths, Morons, Free Speech, Football, and Assorted Absurdities

Chris Kluwe—erstwhile punter for the Minnesota Vikings, musician, and "ordinary human being, full of carbon and hydrogen and oxygen"—builds a collection of essays using the same zeal first seen in his open letter to Emmett C. Burns Jr., the Maryland politician who attempted to quell the free speech of Baltimore Ravens players. The infamous letter is included early in the collection followed by essays on a wide variety of topics: personal, political, random. The book reads like a diary of a smart, incredibly likeable, opinionated spazz. Kluwe entertains throughout with nimble associative leaps, ranging from a future where "the world hovers in an uneasy peace," to a hilarious investigation of the former pope's Twitter account, in which Kluwe points out, "the pope follows himself, in seven languages." Kluwe's sharpest writing comes when he's riled up and revving to rant, as displayed perfectly in his response to an article by former tight end turned writer Nate Johnson. While the book is no masterpiece, Kluwe's personality shines through, making it a highly enjoyable read. Kluwe is a self-aware, funny, intelligent, good dude who knows how to tweak a little publicity toward a good cause. (June)