k8iedid's review against another edition
3.0
I wish I knew how this book came across my radar in 2018, since I'm pretty sure I'm not familiar with Kreider's work. I enjoyed this collection and his writing style.
bookishsentiments's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
allisonreadsabook's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.0
renatasnacks's review against another edition
4.0
This is the book that contains that much-quoted essay about how "if you want to enjoy the rewards of being loved, you also have to submit to the mortifying ordeal of being known." That's pretty much the high mark of this collection. Overall, it's an enjoyable essay collection with a lot of killer sentences in it. There's some self-reflection that is a little bit cringey, but that's the point of it, I suppose?
calendric's review against another edition
5.0
Tim Kreider, as always, manages to find the little things in my head that I didn't know anyone else knew, and put them down on paper. He's one of my absolute favorite writers and delivers in spades in this new book.
failedimitator's review against another edition
5.0
There are two or three essays in here that are minor Kreider, but the vast majority of them are great. And another two or three — Strange Situation, for example — are fucking phenomenal!
Second Reading:
Read this a second time and it's phenomenal. Even the essays that I thought were kind of weak and didn't really work for me the first time really shined this time around. There isn't a single essay here that feels just like a filler. Every single one says something at once deeply personal, but also something generally relatable. It's a 10/10 book and I can't recommend it more.
Second Reading:
Read this a second time and it's phenomenal. Even the essays that I thought were kind of weak and didn't really work for me the first time really shined this time around. There isn't a single essay here that feels just like a filler. Every single one says something at once deeply personal, but also something generally relatable. It's a 10/10 book and I can't recommend it more.
jasonben10's review against another edition
3.0
Deeper and more melancholic vibes than his first but still the same great observational comedy going on. Lots of relationship analysis in this one and his reflections.
In the story about the longest partnership in his life - his cat, " An unshared life feels scarily as if it might not be occurring" p. 137
Interesting passage from the story about him teaching a writing course at a college, "I could understand, in principle at least, why priests are required to be celibate: when you don't want anything from someone, you can give yourself freely, without fear. I liked being in a position for the first time in which I could help someone, dispense advice and encouragement, be generous without an agenda. Where I had the power to be kind." p. 171
Certainly not as impactful as his first book but nonetheless I think there is some interesting brooding going on here, perhaps much later in life a revisit would be rewarding. Good second to last essay about his God thoughts btw.
In the story about the longest partnership in his life - his cat, " An unshared life feels scarily as if it might not be occurring" p. 137
Interesting passage from the story about him teaching a writing course at a college, "I could understand, in principle at least, why priests are required to be celibate: when you don't want anything from someone, you can give yourself freely, without fear. I liked being in a position for the first time in which I could help someone, dispense advice and encouragement, be generous without an agenda. Where I had the power to be kind." p. 171
Certainly not as impactful as his first book but nonetheless I think there is some interesting brooding going on here, perhaps much later in life a revisit would be rewarding. Good second to last essay about his God thoughts btw.