'Reveries Of A Solitary Walker'

For all intents and purposes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau's "Reveries of a Solitary Walker" was the first ever blog. God might have an argument for the Holy Bible. But I'll stick with the French philosopher.

Rousseau had little use for the narrative or storytelling element of the novel. He had ideas and the most direct, best way to get those ideas to the public or to those who read were through these short little essays.

These essays or "walks" were written near the end of Rousseau's life (he did not finish the final "walk, No. 10, before his death). I can just imagine a very bitter (he was ... it shows) and bored Rousseau probably stuck indoors or in a chair for a lot of the time wanting to get something done and wanting to speak his mind one final time.

What makes it a blog -- of sorts -- is that it's (we assume) completely bias, highly personal and written with no filter.

Hodgepodged throughout are anecdotes about these walks he takes through Paris and the surrounding areas documenting these incidents with individuals and the revelry in nature. Some stories border on the ridiculousness of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," while all support some idea or social standard that has captured Rousseau's fancy at the moment.

Chuck Klosterman has published five books and gotten gigs at SPIN, ESPN and Esquire doing essentially the same thing. Seems Rousseau battled just to have a couple of friends.