by Ariel Levy
First published 2015
Guest editor Ariel Levy compares essay writing to wave catching. Both require skill and nerve beyond just the right conditions. The 2015 collection showcases writers who demonstrate exactly that kind of audacity. Contributors tackle subjects ranging from escaping abusive marriages to obsessing over Fitbit data to mourning meaningful clothing. Levy argues that circling around a potentially worthwhile insight demands real courage from writers. The anthology features work by Hilton Als, Roger Angell, Justin Cronin, Meghan Daum, Anthony Doerr, Margo Jefferson, David Sedaris, Zadie Smith, and Rebecca Solnit among others. These pieces span different moods, voices, and perspectives while sharing the boldness required to transform personal experience into art. Levy brings her background as a New Yorker staff writer and National Magazine Award winner to curating this diverse collection of contemporary American essays.
Genres: essays, american, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-narrative
Period: 2015
272 pages · Paperback · Mariner Books