Read a historic newspaper for class that described midtown Manhattan as both "the great central ulcer of wretchedness" and "the very rotting skeleton of civilization, from which emanates an inexhaustible pestilence that spreads its poisonous influence through every vein and artery of the whole social system". Slay
This a great book on many levels, it looks at the history of cigarettes in popular culture and society. Klein explores it on a deeper level, looking at the way humans love to dance on the edge of danger and how we process death as well as the association of danger with allure. An interesting mix of absurdism and nihilism. Pretty quick read, 8/10.
