The Best American Essays of the Century Book

This is the kind of book you pick up every once in a while to read an essay here, an essay there. What I have read so far has been thrilling.



Mark Twain's "Corn-Pone Opinions" is a sardonic and hilarious look at what following sheep we humans are, and how impossible it is to form a unique opinion. The genius lies in his own inability to discern why this is; after all, Twain is human too, and he humbly confines himself to the masses.



John Muir's "Stickeen" will keep you on the edge of your seat-- h This is the kind of book you pick up every once in a while to read an essay here, an essay there. What I have read so far has been thrilling.



Mark Twain's "Corn-Pone Opinions" is a sardonic and hilarious look at what following sheep we humans are, and how impossible it is to form a unique opinion. The genius lies in his own inability to discern why this is; after all, Twain is human too, and he humbly confines himself to the masses.



John Muir's "Stickeen" will keep you on the edge of your seat-- has anyone ever described a storm so beautifully?-- and if you're a dog person, then you'll certainly be weeping by the end.



I can't say I've ever been a huge fan of Hemingway's dry, self-righteous style, but his "Pamplona in July" is certainly a unique look at a world I knew nothing about, in a country I yearn to visit.



Zora Neale Hurston's "How it Feels to Be Colored Me" is playful and joyous, William James's "The Moral Equivalent of War" is rather opaque but still interesting, and of course, Martin Luther King's "Letter From Birmingham Jail" is one of the greatest, most moving pieces of writing in existence. For these examples alone, the book is worth owning, but as I flip through the essays that still lie ahead-- Fitzgerald, E.B. White, Rachel Carson, Tom Wolfe, John McPhee, Annie Dillard, and on and on-- I know this book will become more and more valuable each time I pick it up.

Obviously, this stuff is good. I discovered some new writers and some new favorites by old writers(The Crack Up, by Fitzgerald.) However, Joyce Carol Oates made these selections and she definitely did so with a historical sense. The collection could just as well have been called "Best Essays about America in the 20th Century." No surprises here, no experiments with form, and what to me felt like a sometimes annoyingly persistent "relevance." I guess I just have a thing for really, really, really, really well-written essays that don't have much to do with anything "important." Still, it's a don't miss.

When I couldn't get ahold of Gretel Erlich's The Solace of Open Spaces at the library, I did the next best thing: I found that namesake essay in this lovely book of essays and enjoyed not only it but many others besides. Compilations can be tricky and uneven, but editor Joyce Carol Oates has done an excellent job curating truly some of the finest short essays of (and about) the 20th century. (And by the way: The Solace of Open Spaces was an excellent piece, beautifully and poetically written, an When I couldn't get ahold of Gretel Erlich's The Solace of Open Spaces at the library, I did the next best thing: I found that namesake essay in this lovely book of essays and enjoyed not only it but many others besides. Compilations can be tricky and uneven, but editor Joyce Carol Oates has done an excellent job curating truly some of the finest short essays of (and about) the 20th century. (And by the way: The Solace of Open Spaces was an excellent piece, beautifully and poetically written, and I think her full book would be worth buying.)



I don't get into podcasts, but this book fills what is probably that same kind of void for me. It's like listening to one of the long-form-story NPR programs, only I get to READ these wonderful essays myself, taking my time discovering, sampling, and digesting. When my husband and I were first married, we vowed to not buy a TV for a year so we would spend that time with each other instead of lost in a screen. I remember that year with great fondness. We would talk or listen to the radio and discuss what we heard. We'd read the newspaper or books aloud to each other and have lively conversations.



As I read this, it took me back to that simpler time. I thought, this would be a good book to have on the coffee table for a quiet night when there's a fire in the fireplace, the TV's off, and the ever-present smartphones are set aside. Maybe if we had this book handy, we would feel inspired to read aloud to each other--as people did for enjoyment for many years before screens--at least from time to time. Sounds so lovely to me. It's worth a try!

With relatively few exceptions, there wasn't anything in here I didn't enjoy... Oates did a solid job of selecting not only the best essays, but also essays from a wide breadth of American life. Plenty of women, plenty of writers of color, articles on war, articles on poverty, articles on immigration, articles on culture, articles on science, articles on the environment, and all while staying pretty geographically diverse.



There are, of course, the less impressive articles, the ones that hit me the wrong way or struck me as pretentious, but for every one of those, there were three or four that were brilliant.

Many of these essays have heavy themes, and several are very similar--racism, violence... the many ways people can be cruel, especially to people who can't fight back. I would have liked it better if I could have spaced out the reading more, but as it is, the essays felt important, but like an anchor dragging my mood down. Many of these essays have heavy themes, and several are very similar--racism, violence... the many ways people can be cruel, especially to people who can't fight back. I would have liked it better if I could have spaced out the reading more, but as it is, the essays felt important, but like an anchor dragging my mood down.

The best collection of essays from a wide range of writers.

Three stars for this huge collection of essays. I think the three stars are due to the book's nature: a collection. Naturally, a collection contains not only essays which I absolutely loved and would have given five stars, but also essays I found absolutely boring and would have given one or two stars.

Therefore, the sum of all essays is the middle rating.



The essays I really enjoyed were:

John Muir - Stickeen

Ernest Hemingway - Pamplona in July

James Thurber - Sex Ex Machina

Richard Wright - The Et Three stars for this huge collection of essays. I think the three stars are due to the book's nature: a collection. Naturally, a collection contains not only essays which I absolutely loved and would have given five stars, but also essays I found absolutely boring and would have given one or two stars.

Therefore, the sum of all essays is the middle rating.



The essays I really enjoyed were:

John Muir - Stickeen

Ernest Hemingway - Pamplona in July

James Thurber - Sex Ex Machina

Richard Wright - The Ethics of Living Jim Crow

James Baldwin - Notes of a Native Son

Martin Luther King Jr. - Letter From Birmingham Jail

N. Scott Momaday - The Way to Rainy Mountain

Maya Angelou - I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Maxine Hong Kingston - No Name Woman

Alice Walker - Looking For Zora

Richard Rodriguez - Aria: a Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood

Gretel Ehrlich - The Solace of Open Spaces (I guess my favorite)

William Manchester - Okinawa

Gerald Early - Life With Daughters: Watching the Miss America Pageant

Joyce Carol Oates - They All Just Went Away (interesting how I thought her writing style was horrible reading the Introduction, but then really liked her essay)

An essay is such a rich treasure; I had forgotten how much I enjoy to read and write them. I have been struggling with writer's block, but now I remember why it is I love to write. Some of them made me laugh; some of them made me hold my breath until the end, when I let it out with one big WHOOSH. I was moved to tears, to anger. And with some I read the last sentence and looked up at the wall, struggling to believe the writer hadn't reached out and physically sucker punched me. Not everyone writ An essay is such a rich treasure; I had forgotten how much I enjoy to read and write them. I have been struggling with writer's block, but now I remember why it is I love to write. Some of them made me laugh; some of them made me hold my breath until the end, when I let it out with one big WHOOSH. I was moved to tears, to anger. And with some I read the last sentence and looked up at the wall, struggling to believe the writer hadn't reached out and physically sucker punched me. Not everyone writes the same; we all shouldn't even strive to write the same. My art and your art are as unique as our fingerprints. They are as unique to our identities as our souls are to our bodies, and that is why I love the personal essay.

Favorites:

The Moral Equivalent of War by William James

What Are Masterpieces & Why Are There so Few of Them by Gertrude Stein

Tradition & The Individual Talent by TS Eliot

A Drugstore in Winter by Cynthia Ozick

Corn-pone Opinions by Mark Twain

The Lives of A Cell by Lewis Thomas

There's a lot of great reading here. The carefully curated collection of essays starts strong with Twain's observation of natural American clanishness using the metaphor of "corne-pone opinions". This is almost the best of the best. For me the best here is muir's celebration of Stickeen the explorer dog. I can picture the plucky animal conquering his own fears at the glacier bridge and the twinkling in his eyes as he recollects the close call with Muir. Also very good is pioneer community organi There's a lot of great reading here. The carefully curated collection of essays starts strong with Twain's observation of natural American clanishness using the metaphor of "corne-pone opinions". This is almost the best of the best. For me the best here is muir's celebration of Stickeen the explorer dog. I can picture the plucky animal conquering his own fears at the glacier bridge and the twinkling in his eyes as he recollects the close call with Muir. Also very good is pioneer community organizer jane Addams seeing in women their personal struggles in their desires to see it purported "devil baby". For the Hemingway piece about the running of the bulls i am further confirmed that at this point in my life I am unimpressed with his fiction but find his nonfiction enjoyable enough. Mencken's gonzo reporting of the Scopes "Monkey Trial" reads like Hunter S. himself. I also am starting to see emerge from the dark night of my ignorance the constellation of brights in American literature: Sontag (brilliant disection of "camp" that I now know predates Friday the 13th), independent polymath Edmund Wilson, James Agee, etc. Didion discursive assaying and of the turbulent 60s is in the Montaigne tradition and Bellow's "Graven Images" is an insightful musing on photography that could extend from 1997 to today's struggles with 24hour news camers body cameras, etc.



These are chronologically arranged but I think topical could have been better: death (two on suicide), the arts, society. Even our long struggles with racism: Wright, Angelou, Hurston and even Alice Walker's poignant search for Hurston's grave.

I took a year to read this anthology of essays ranging from Mark Twain's "Corn-pone Opinions" to Saul Bellow's "Graven Images." In it, Joyce Carol Oats presents a collection of essays published throughout the century on topics both personal and public. Some are reflections on childhood, some ruminate on public events such as wars, civil rights events, and headline-grabbing crimes. The collection offers diversity of race and region, but it's shifted to represent writing by those who established t I took a year to read this anthology of essays ranging from Mark Twain's "Corn-pone Opinions" to Saul Bellow's "Graven Images." In it, Joyce Carol Oats presents a collection of essays published throughout the century on topics both personal and public. Some are reflections on childhood, some ruminate on public events such as wars, civil rights events, and headline-grabbing crimes. The collection offers diversity of race and region, but it's shifted to represent writing by those who established their reputation as writers in the early to mid century. There are precious few essays published in the 1980s and 1990s by the under 40 crowd. There's a very strong presence of the 40s, 50s and 60s. Nevertheless, it's a strong collection with a helpful appendix of "also rans." My favorites are as follows: John Muir's "Stickeen," Jane Addams' "The Devil Baby at Hull-House," Mary McCarthy's "Artist in Uniform," "Rachel Carson's "The Marginal World," Loren Eiseley's "The Brown Wasps," Donald Hall's, "A Hundred Thousand STraightened Nails," John McPhee's "The Search for Marvin Gardens," Maxine Hong Kingston's "No Name Woman," Alice Walker's "Looking for Zora," Annie Dillard's "Total Eclipse," Stephen Jay Gould's "The Creation Myths of Cooperstown, and Gerald EArly's "Life with Daughters: Watching the Miss America Pageant."

After the election I barely read the news for a month - instead I read this book of essays. This was a good salve to understand the United States and all this country has been through. Here, "Corn Pone opinions" by Mark Twain:



Men think they think upon great political questions, and they do; but they think with their party, not independently; they read its literature, but not that of the other side; they arrive at convictions, but they are drawn from a partial view of the matter in hand and are After the election I barely read the news for a month - instead I read this book of essays. This was a good salve to understand the United States and all this country has been through. Here, "Corn Pone opinions" by Mark Twain:



Men think they think upon great political questions, and they do; but they think with their party, not independently; they read its literature, but not that of the other side; they arrive at convictions, but they are drawn from a partial view of the matter in hand and are of no particular value. They swarm with their party, they feel with their party, they are happy in their party's approval; and where the party leads they will follow, whether for right and honor, or through blood and dirt and a mush of mutilated morals.



p.s. if anyone in Seattle wants to borrow, happy to lend!

It's hard to rate a collection of essays, but taken as a whole I thought they did a rather poor job of picking which ones were the best. I have no idea what John Muir's dog has to do with anything, but maybe I'm too dense to catch the subtle symbolism. However, some of the essays are solid and should be read by everybody. The ones I thought were worth my time and I would recommend are: "The Handicapped" by Randolph Bourne, "The Devil Baby at Hull House" by Jane Addams, "The Marginal World" by Ra It's hard to rate a collection of essays, but taken as a whole I thought they did a rather poor job of picking which ones were the best. I have no idea what John Muir's dog has to do with anything, but maybe I'm too dense to catch the subtle symbolism. However, some of the essays are solid and should be read by everybody. The ones I thought were worth my time and I would recommend are: "The Handicapped" by Randolph Bourne, "The Devil Baby at Hull House" by Jane Addams, "The Marginal World" by Rachel Carson, "Letter from Birmingham Jail" (Martin Luther King), and "Okinawa, the bloodies battle of all," by William Manchester.

Really a terrific, interesting collection.
I emerge as I went in with James Baldwin and Joan Didion my favorite essayists, honorable mentions for Susan Sontag, Lewis Thomas, Vladimir Nabokov and Annie Dillard (and editor Oates herself). Of the rest, the ones new to me, I liked some more than others of course; revelations for me here include John Muir (had no idea he was such a good prose stylist and storyteller), Jane Addams (really interesting cultural reading), Loren Eiseley, Cynthia Ozick, and Really a terrific, interesting collection.
I emerge as I went in with James Baldwin and Joan Didion my favorite essayists, honorable mentions for Susan Sontag, Lewis Thomas, Vladimir Nabokov and Annie Dillard (and editor Oates herself). Of the rest, the ones new to me, I liked some more than others of course; revelations for me here include John Muir (had no idea he was such a good prose stylist and storyteller), Jane Addams (really interesting cultural reading), Loren Eiseley, Cynthia Ozick, and Stephen Jay Gould. And as a whole the collection offers an interesting account, from a variety of perspectives, of the obsessions and predilections of 20th century America. ...

While I found many of these essays to be lacking in merit to the extent that they be included in a book titled the "Best...of the Century" those were yet of high quality. Those that I did enjoy are of the very highest quality writing; these essays provided writing that transported the reader, evoked feelings, and clothed memories in the flesh of vivid imagery and rich description. I feel my perspective enlightened and my views expanded from reading this work, which I feel is the best that can be While I found many of these essays to be lacking in merit to the extent that they be included in a book titled the "Best...of the Century" those were yet of high quality. Those that I did enjoy are of the very highest quality writing; these essays provided writing that transported the reader, evoked feelings, and clothed memories in the flesh of vivid imagery and rich description. I feel my perspective enlightened and my views expanded from reading this work, which I feel is the best that can be said for any piece of writing, but most especially the form of the essay. I cannot more highly recommend this book.

It was enlightening enough, but most of the essays deal with the pitfalls and triumphs of American tolerance, having to do mostly with what it is like to live in America as a minority (this is not a bad thing, though). It would have been nice to see more variety in topics. However, the subjects discussed did vary with each passing essay in at least one regard--being Jewish, being Hispanic, being black (three of the most moving essays in the series). Since this is only volume one, I think I shoul It was enlightening enough, but most of the essays deal with the pitfalls and triumphs of American tolerance, having to do mostly with what it is like to live in America as a minority (this is not a bad thing, though). It would have been nice to see more variety in topics. However, the subjects discussed did vary with each passing essay in at least one regard--being Jewish, being Hispanic, being black (three of the most moving essays in the series). Since this is only volume one, I think I should be expecting different explored topics for the second.

Joyce Carol Oates and Robert Atwan, the editors of "The Best American Essays of the Century," made many wonderful selections for this anthology. My personal favorites include Joan Didion's "The White Album," H.L. Mencken's "The Hills of Zion," and W.E.B. Du Bois's "Of the Coming of John." There also are fine pieces by John McPhee, Mark Twain, Rachel Carson, Richard Rodriguez and other writers, some of them journalists, some essayists, and some better known as novelists. This anthology is a well- Joyce Carol Oates and Robert Atwan, the editors of "The Best American Essays of the Century," made many wonderful selections for this anthology. My personal favorites include Joan Didion's "The White Album," H.L. Mencken's "The Hills of Zion," and W.E.B. Du Bois's "Of the Coming of John." There also are fine pieces by John McPhee, Mark Twain, Rachel Carson, Richard Rodriguez and other writers, some of them journalists, some essayists, and some better known as novelists. This anthology is a well-rounded survey of some of the most notable nonfiction American writing of the 20th century.

I had to read this entire book for my Creative Nonfiction class and most of it was fantastic. I really enjoyed most of these essays and they really braid together well in terms of time. Especially with the things that matter most in today's time and how their relevance is shown. Some of these pieces are absolutely beautiful. I think I would've enjoyed this more if I didn't have to read it for class though. This book did however create really engaging conversations about how we craft our own piec I had to read this entire book for my Creative Nonfiction class and most of it was fantastic. I really enjoyed most of these essays and they really braid together well in terms of time. Especially with the things that matter most in today's time and how their relevance is shown. Some of these pieces are absolutely beautiful. I think I would've enjoyed this more if I didn't have to read it for class though. This book did however create really engaging conversations about how we craft our own pieces as well.

I have mixed reviews for this one: some of the essays were a bit tedious to get through, and perhaps the meaning was just lost on me; others were really incredible, and if I could be half as good a writer someday, I would be happy. The introduction, by Joyce Carol Oates, is written by someone who really knows the craft, and because I read it before reading the essays, I had more appreciation for them.

First time I was reading first hand accounts of much of America's history. Learnt a lot from this book in terms of where the style of the personal essay derives from. Some lovely passages from TS Eliot on writing, or other reminisces on the outdoors, or urban inequality, etc. Some of the essays I didn't like, either for style (too descriptive) or content (too self-indulgent), but I'd say 80 to 90% was excellent. Had to read essays seperately and give time to digest thought. First time I was reading first hand accounts of much of America's history. Learnt a lot from this book in terms of where the style of the personal essay derives from. Some lovely passages from TS Eliot on writing, or other reminisces on the outdoors, or urban inequality, etc. Some of the essays I didn't like, either for style (too descriptive) or content (too self-indulgent), but I'd say 80 to 90% was excellent. Had to read essays seperately and give time to digest thought.

Not every essay in this collection is a gem, but several are, and the worst manage to at least be thought provoking. Particular stand-outs for me were Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail", Alice Walker's essay on her search for Zora Neale Hurston's grave, Richard Rodriguez's essay on growing up bilingual, and Stephen Jay Gould's essay on the evolution of baseball. Not every essay in this collection is a gem, but several are, and the worst manage to at least be thought provoking. Particular stand-outs for me were Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail", Alice Walker's essay on her search for Zora Neale Hurston's grave, Richard Rodriguez's essay on growing up bilingual, and Stephen Jay Gould's essay on the evolution of baseball.

So I started bloggin again, and what is a blog if not a very modern form of the essay. I thought I would do well to get a little forward thought on it. Not finished with the book yet, but so far I like it. The essays are also a good length for my bus ride, which provides a nice sense of accoplishment.

This is a textbook for one of my Writing, Rhetoric, and Discourse graduate classes (aptly entitled "The Essay"). We didn't read the entire book, but we read many of the essays, and they were really quite enjoyable and represented a broad range of "types" of essays. This would be a good book to have on your shelf.

This book is filled with great Essays. I just re-read Loren Eiseley's - The Brown Wasps. Man what an incredible essay writer he is! This particular essay is also the final essay in his book The Night Country

This is an ongoing read for me. I started it in September, and I read it when I need something short or want to take a break from a longer book or something I am reading for school. There are several pieces in here that are favorites (Letters From Birmingham Jail, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, The White Album, etc.) I plan to make it through them all eventually, but I'm not in a hurry.