An illuminating compendium of personal essays by an all-star line-up of
novelists, poets, playwrights, editors, critics, and humorists, all of
whom have recommended an under-appreciated or little-known work of
literature. The book is comprised of short, often anecdotal essays that
share personal, affectionate accounts of why a contributor's particular
choice of book deserves to be rediscovered and read anew. Nearly every
genre is included, in every manner of fiction and non-fiction,
including history, biography, autobiography, memoir, humor, nature,
crime writing, war reportage, and science fiction. The 158 contributors
to this collection include Jane Smiley, Calvin Trillin, John Guare,
Oscar Hijuelos, Buck Henry, Graydon Carter, Pico Iyer, Robert Pinsky,
C.K. Williams, Deborah Eisenberg, and Scott Simon.
