Essays

No Judgment

By Lauren Oyler

Saying “no judgment” is a cover for our desire to judge, posits Lauren Oyler. As a cultural critic for the New York Times, The New Yorker, Harper’s and other such publications, Oyler is in the business of judging, and she doesn’t hold back in her debut collection of essays. TED Talks, Goodreads reviewers, the “vulnerability” trend, that thing Martin Scorsese said about Marvel—her takes would be dizzying if she were not so skilled in constructing solid arguments that deepen our understanding of cultural criticism. No Judgment is deeply funny and wise.

Saying “no judgment” is a cover for our desire to judge, posits Lauren Oyler. As a cultural critic for the New York Times, The New Yorker, Harper’s and other such publications, Oyler is in the business of judging, and she doesn’t hold back in her debut collection of essays. TED Talks, Goodreads reviewers, the “vulnerability” […]

Sad Happens

By Brandon Stosuy

Brandon Stosuy collects candid takes on sadness from Phoebe Bridgers, Hanif Abdurraqib and a bevy of other luminaries in Sad Happens.

Brandon Stosuy collects candid takes on sadness from Phoebe Bridgers, Hanif Abdurraqib and a bevy of other luminaries in Sad Happens.

Transient and Strange

By Nell Greenfieldboyce

Nell Greenfieldboyce’s thoughtful, idiosyncratic memoir in essays twines the personal with the scientific.

Nell Greenfieldboyce’s thoughtful, idiosyncratic memoir in essays twines the personal with the scientific.

The Comfort of Crows

By Margaret Renkl

Margaret Renkl’s The Comfort of Crows is a shimmering weekly devotional that praises living beings great and small. 

Margaret Renkl’s The Comfort of Crows is a shimmering weekly devotional that praises living beings great and small. 

The Book of (More) Delights

By Ross Gay

Informal yet inspired, off-the-cuff yet beautifully composed, Ross Gay’s follow-up to The Book of Delights reveals the riches hidden in quotidian experience.

Informal yet inspired, off-the-cuff yet beautifully composed, Ross Gay’s follow-up to The Book of Delights reveals the riches hidden in quotidian experience.

The Ugly History of Beautiful Things

By Katy Kelleher

Katy Kelleher skillfully illuminates the ugly shadows cast by some of our world’s most beautiful objects, including flowers, gemstones and silk.

Katy Kelleher skillfully illuminates the ugly shadows cast by some of our world’s most beautiful objects, including flowers, gemstones and silk.

Monsters

By Claire Dederer

An enjoyable book about a thorny, elusive subject, Monsters is an incisive work of literary criticism about art created by men we now consider monsters.

An enjoyable book about a thorny, elusive subject, Monsters is an incisive work of literary criticism about art created by men we now consider monsters.

The Leaving Season

By Kelly McMasters

With poetry and profundity, Kelly McMasters reflects on her path from optimistic wife and mother-to-be to reluctant yet relieved divorcee and single mom.

With poetry and profundity, Kelly McMasters reflects on her path from optimistic wife and mother-to-be to reluctant yet relieved divorcee and single mom.

Quietly Hostile

By Samantha Irby

Samantha Irby’s fourth essay collection plays the hits, offering readers a masterclass in situating pitch-perfect comedy and deep sincerity side by side.

Samantha Irby’s fourth essay collection plays the hits, offering readers a masterclass in situating pitch-perfect comedy and deep sincerity side by side.

Wannabe

By Aisha Harris

When Aisha Harris applies her journalistic scrutiny to the subversive pop culture icons who shaped her millennial upbringing and worldview, the magic of Wannabe comes alive.

When Aisha Harris applies her journalistic scrutiny to the subversive pop culture icons who shaped her millennial upbringing and worldview, the magic of Wannabe comes alive.

Evidence of Things Seen

By Sarah Weinman

Sarah Weinman’s second true crime anthology confronts how social media, misogyny, racism and classism shape how we perceive crime.

Sarah Weinman’s second true crime anthology confronts how social media, misogyny, racism and classism shape how we perceive crime.

Thin Skin

By Jenn Shapland

In her profound, often piercing new book Thin Skin, Jenn Shapland challenges readers to broaden their perspective and perhaps even join her in being just a little bit more sensitive.

In her profound, often piercing new book Thin Skin, Jenn Shapland challenges readers to broaden their perspective and perhaps even join her in being just a little bit more sensitive.

Congratulations, The Best Is Over!

By R. Eric Thomas

R. Eric Thomas will keep you laughing, but underneath the mirth of this excellent essay collection lies a wealth of thoughtful observations about his life, family, politics, pop culture and especially his marriage.

R. Eric Thomas will keep you laughing, but underneath the mirth of this excellent essay collection lies a wealth of thoughtful observations about his life, family, politics, pop culture and especially his marriage.

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