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micheleheather's review
4.0
These "Best American" books are usually good reads, and this one is no exception. A broad range of essays this year, some literary, some political, some personal.
As always, the selection is slanted toward the bias of this year's editor, David Foster Wallace. But in his (really good!) introduction, he admits this and then, without apology, the book goes on.
There are several essays about the war in Iraq and Afganistan, mostly leaning on the "against" side of things, but there are also many essays that vary widely from that type, including one that reads like fiction by Jo Ann Beard, an essay on Cesar Millan (the "dog whisperer") by Malcolm Gladwell, and thought-provoking essays on being a carnivore (no, it doesn't promote vegetarianism!) and giving to charity ("What Should a Billionaire Give - and What Should You?").
As always, the selection is slanted toward the bias of this year's editor, David Foster Wallace. But in his (really good!) introduction, he admits this and then, without apology, the book goes on.
There are several essays about the war in Iraq and Afganistan, mostly leaning on the "against" side of things, but there are also many essays that vary widely from that type, including one that reads like fiction by Jo Ann Beard, an essay on Cesar Millan (the "dog whisperer") by Malcolm Gladwell, and thought-provoking essays on being a carnivore (no, it doesn't promote vegetarianism!) and giving to charity ("What Should a Billionaire Give - and What Should You?").
renatasnacks's review
4.0
A great anthology, per usual. I especially liked Elaine Scarry's essay about torture (spoiler: it's anti-) and Marilynne Robinson's about Christian liberals. Also DFW's introduction is a good read, even though it's mostly about how the introduction is unnecessary and will likely be unread.
veranasi's review
3.0
I read these sorts of things because most of the essays I am interested in, were written 20 years, 50 years, 100 years ago...? I think the Best American franchise fails often in their search for the best essays. I bought this particular edition, because I am a DFW fanboy. There a few really awesome essays. There's a really pretty narrative essay involving a building fire.
escapegrace's review
4.0
In lieu of a traditional composition reader, I decided to trust my students to know what to take from these essays to improve their academic writing and what to leave. I started reading the collection in preparation for the class on September 3. On September 12, when I was about halfway through guest editor David Foster Wallace's introduction, he took his own life. It was at least a week or two before I was able to return to the collection, feeling spooked and sad to realize this was probably one of the last things he had written. Once I began again, every word choice and candid declaration was full of portent and significance; the reading proceeded painfully. Reviewing the essays Harper's posted after Wallace's death, I came across "Tense Present: Democracy, English, and the Wars Over Usage" and realized that - in combination with the introduction "Deciderization 2007: A Special Report" - I would be completely justified in devoting the first week of class to Wallace and introducing him to a gaggle of teenagers. Fortunately, I teach at a school where the students are intellectually advanced, and they unwittingly helped me grieve for this man whom I did not know but mourn nonetheless.
mirk's review
4.0
I completely enjoyed this collection of essays. I started with the Robinson (Onward Christian Liberals), then cherry picked all the political/war essays, and finally started from the front and read all the remaining ones. My favorite essays were by Robinson, Scarry, Singer, Buruma, Danner, Gessert, and Grief. I also enjoyed the essay on the dog whisperer because I'm addicted to that show on t.v. (I had no idea he was an illegal immigrant).
bibliokris's review
4.0
I either buy or am given a copy of this series every year, and it never disappoints. I would've given this a 4 1/2 if I could've...can't remember which essays are best, but would say that I always am surprised and amazed by the quality of writing. And I find myself learning a lot & glad that I'm catching the essays this way, since I missed them in the New Yorker or Harper's or wherever. I am now reading the 1988 Best American Essays (the year I graduated from high school) and finding most of the essays so far very much worth my time. The essay is probably my favorite writing form.
bibliocyclist's review
4.0
"The smile of the torturer is latent within everyone."
"Issue-driven politics in red-and-blue America is like a man whose appetite for steak is greatly enhanced by his contempt for vegetarians."
"Issue-driven politics in red-and-blue America is like a man whose appetite for steak is greatly enhanced by his contempt for vegetarians."
yourcoldclay's review
very glad I read this; got it bc I was interested in reading DFW's intro and ended up loving his selection of essays. lots of valuable info about the war in Iraq at the time. lots of compassionate, thoughtful pieces in here that made me wish I could argue w the writer which is a good feeling sometimes u know??? that is also generally how I feel while reading DFW essays so I was expecting it I guess
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