{"product_id":"the-best-american-essays-2016-9780544812109","title":"The Best American Essays 2016","description":"\u003ch2\u003eThe Best American Essays 2016 - Curated by Jonathan Franzen\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2016 edition of The Best American Essays presents a collection of bold, risk-taking essays selected by guest editor Jonathan Franzen. This literary anthology showcases contemporary nonfiction that challenges conventions and embraces personal subjectivity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eGuest Editor's Vision\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJonathan Franzen, author of five novels including \u003cem\u003ePurity\u003c\/em\u003e and five works of nonfiction such as \u003cem\u003eFarther Away\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Kraus Project\u003c\/em\u003e, defines the true essay as \"something hazarded, not definitive, not authoritative; something ventured on the basis of the author's personal experience and subjectivity.\" His primary selection criterion for this volume was risk—essays that champion unpopular opinions, potentially jeopardize professional careers, or irrevocably challenge family relationships. As Franzen notes, \"the writer has to be like the firefighter, whose job, while everyone else is fleeing the flames, is to run straight into them.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eFeatured Contributors\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis essay collection includes work from distinguished contemporary writers:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlexander Chee\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePaul Crenshaw\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJaquira Díaz\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLaura Kipnis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAmitava Kumar\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSebastian Junger\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJoyce Carol Oates\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOliver Sacks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThomas Chatterton Williams\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eThe Best American Essays Series\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRobert Atwan has served as series editor of The Best American Essays since its inception in 1986. His editorial expertise spans American advertising, early photography, ancient divination, and Shakespeare. His criticism, essays, humor, poetry, and fiction have appeared in numerous periodicals nationwide, making him an authoritative curator of this annual anthology.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout Jonathan Franzen\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJonathan Franzen is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the German Akademie der Künste, and the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. His literary credentials and editorial vision bring exceptional depth to this collection of contemporary American essays.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003ePublication Details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePublished by Mariner Books in October 2016, this paperback edition offers readers access to the year's most compelling essay writing. The collection serves as both a reading list for literature enthusiasts and a resource for those studying writing craft and creative nonfiction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJONATHAN FRANZEN is the author of five novels, most recently \u003ci\u003ePurity, \u003c\/i\u003e and five works of nonfiction and translation, including \u003ci\u003eFarther Away\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Kraus Project.\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e ROBERT ATWAN has been the series editor of \u003ci\u003eThe Best American Essays\u003c\/i\u003e since its inception in 1986.","brand":"Mariner Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50680645026066,"sku":"9780544812109","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_05da3277-3987-413d-9c5e-d7da34870fa7.jpg?v=1734923670","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/the-best-american-essays-2016-9780544812109","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}