Dave Rubin is an “ideas” guy on the political right, in the sense that he seems to get off on saying the word “ideas.” His new book, Don’t Burn This Book: Thinking for Yourself in an Age of Unreason, is an effort to prove Rubin actually understands ideas, at least to the point where he can expound on them with modest consistency and plausibility.

But while the book raises a few scattered arguments of worth, most of it consists of vague appeals to historical ideologies better unpacked elsewhere, celebrity bashing, seemingly endless penis jokes, fan service, and outrage at outrage culture. By the time the last page turns, you find yourself pondering whether Rubin the intellectual is actually a big joke pulled by Rubin the comedian. Sadly, the punch line still hasn’t landed.