Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto by Chuck Klosterman is a novel about the development of Generation X, and how cultural icons both affected this development, and were affected by the same generation. This is not a scientific look, but rather, a personal one that examines the life of a Gen Xer through the eyes of someone who was in the center of a bombardment of cultural media, and who has embraced that media throughout his life as part of his continued career.

Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto by Chuck Klosterman is a study of a generation through references to pop culture. Klosterman, a part of Generation X, seeks to explain how his culture affects and has been affected by mainstream media and popular culture icons. He begins by using movies to explain the lack of personal relationships within those of his generation. Klosterman believes unrealistic romance movies have led to unrealistic concepts of love. Klosterman also points out how The Sims video game mimics life, how the "Real World" television show shaped his generation's singular sense of self, how "cool" is a relative term, and how tribute bands are a statement of the state of the world.

Klosterman then moves to examining sexual icons and the institutional acceptance of failure for children inside the sport of soccer. Klosterman next evaluates all arguments in relation to the Celtics and the Lakers, examines the use of porn to expand the use of the internet, gives twenty-three questions he uses to understand people, and discusses the marketing of breakfast cereal. Next, he analyzes the television show "Saved By the Bell", the effect of Star Wars on the development of Generation Xers, how movies have influenced his generation, and how cinema has changed over time. He notes that good films in modern times ask the question "What is Reality?" since reality is no longer static enough to create movies based on explaining cultural movements. Country music is then analyzed in terms of how this music relates to society in comparison to alternative country, and serial killers, as the modern criminal, are examined in depth from interviews with those who know or have had experiences with them.

Next, Klosterman examines the rising concept within the newspaper industry that people do not want to read. He disagrees with with that statement and believes newspapers should, in light of the war with television news, become more expansive with longer stories, as opposed to writing shorter, more colorful stories. He explains true journalism, and discusses sports writers. His next topic is the analysis of those who critique music in contrast to those who perform it.

Finally, Klosterman discusses religion, born again Christianity, and the Left Behind series in relation to its impact on society. As a complete analysis of pop culture, Klosterman's book is a trip down memory lane for anyone of his generation. His references, while dated, are just as relevant as modern references would be to the youth today. His concepts are unique and entertaining, and seem to have some merit in terms of the examination of Generation X. All in all, the book is a light, humorous, and yet intellectually stimulating book about the development of humanity.