The Wondering Years by Knox McCoy

When you hear the phrase pop culture, you likely think reality television, boy bands or Real Housewives of various cities. While these are elements of popular culture, they aren’t all it has to offer. Pop culture may not cure diseases, topple political regimes, or make scientific breakthroughs, but it does play a vital role in the story of humanity.

In fact, it’s pretty hard to define the human experience without it. And it’s impossible to create pop culture without the human experience. Popular podcaster Knox McCoy understands this, and so do the tens of thousands of listeners who tune in to hear him talk about pop culture every week on his wildly popular podcast, The Popcast with Knox and Jamie.

In The Wondering Years, Knox explores this idea of connecting popular culture to his own experiences. Through hilarious yet poignant stories, he reflects on how pop culture has helped shape his life and carve out the foundation of his faith. While the three cultural tentpoles—the South, the Church, and Sports—defined many aspects of his East Tennessee upbringing, it was pop culture that most definitively influenced Knox and his sense of the world at large.

Through books, television, music, and movies, Knox found many of the answers he was searching for about God and the universe and why we are all here. The Wondering Years is a hilarious look back at the key influences that shaped Knox’s formative years and his faith, a reminder of our own encounters with pop culture that have shaped each of our formative years and continue to influence us today.

*I received a copy of this book through BookLookBloggers.*

I have never listened to a podcast in my life. I mean, I guess I'm still a dinosaur in many ways. I'm not even sure how you listen to a podcast?! Anywayyyyy, point being, I have never heard his podcast.

But this book was so funny. The book reads like someone talking to you. (podcast?) I felt the snark and the heartfelt a mile away. I had many moments where reading his descriptions of his life growing up etc, that made me think of my life. I went back and thought of the good days. Days I wish were here again.

I think if anyone loves these podcasts everyone talks about, or God, or funny stuff. or real stuff.... then here you go. And no, it's not all preachy stuff that sooooo many are worried about!

I will leave you with a random excerpt and it just happens to be on drinking! I didn't pick it, I picked a page and went for it (don't judge me!) =)

Excerpt:

So, clearly, my perception of alcohol was on a roller coaster of awareness and acceptance. If I may, allow me to timeline it out to more clearly demonstrate the ebb and flow of my relationship to it.

•Ages 0-6: Unaware. Because I was a kid. Don't be dumb.

•Ages 6-15: Aware because of the proliferation of beer commercials during sporting events and inclusion of alcohol in various TV shows and their "Very Special Episode" motifs. And also because it was passively implied through church and afterschool programming to be on the same level as crack cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.

•Ages 15-21: Adamantly opposed for two main reasons:
a. At this point I'd been given appropriate context for alcohol from my parents because it, with a side of infidelity, destroyed both homes.
b. It made me feel extra moral to not drink even though my peers did. "No Heineken for me, thanks. If I want my life ruined, I'll ruin it for GOD thank you very much."

•Ages 22-33: Cautiously intrigued. Once I was of legal age, I couldn't help wanting to know what all the buzz (nailed it) was about.

Happy Reading!

Mel ♥