There’s a particular charm to Ian Svenonius’ madness. On the surface, it may come off as the frantic scribblings of an articulate paranoid, convinced that every facet of American culture is part of some deeper conspiracy to control the masses. And perhaps the punk singer and provocateur is right! How else does one explain how highly-addictive high fructose corn syrup has come to replace cane sugar in so many products? (Hint: It dates back to the Johnson administration.) In his latest collection of essays, published earlier this week by Akashic Books, Svenonius continues to share his thoughts on pop culture, politics, and consumerism. Below, a brief window into his world and what he thinks about certain things—from NPR to the cherished Lord of the Rings series—culled from his newest book, Censorship Now!! and his previous essay collection, The Psychic Soviet. Never change, Spiv.

Censorship Now!! is available now via Akashic Books.