This is an intriguing set of stories on many different subjects, brought together not because of their subjects or authors, but simply because Ira Glass though they were really good examples of reporting. It turns out that Ira has excellent taste. Each of these stories are fascinating, and because of the way that Ira introduced them, made me think a bit about how they managed to keep me interested. I recommend this book to anyone, particularly aspiring journalists if there are any of those left out there. ( )

David Foster Wallace and the hostess essay were my favorites. Oh god, and against my better judgment, the fucking awesome Val Kilmer essay by Chuck Klosterman. Zen. Most of the rest had the middle-aged whole-foods shoppin' white gen x liberal vibe that makes me all embarrassed for my greater political family. Come on Dad, you're embarrassing me. ( )

A collection of articles, most of them originally published in magazines, on a wide range of topics. Among other things, it includes a look into the lives of a conservative talk radio host, a teenager indicted by the SEC for stock market fraud, Saddam Hussein, Val Kilmer, and a random American ten-year-old.

The somewhat clumsy title isn't entirely accurate. Certainly it's stretching the definition of "new"; the oldest of the articles first appeared in 1985, and several of them feel a bit dated now. Also, the field it draws from is a little more limited than the broad term "nonfiction" implies. All the articles are what editor Ira Glass calls "original reporting" (as opposed to, say, reflective essays), and all are to one degree or another presented with the kind of personal touch that Glass apparently favors.

As to whether the authors presented here are the "kings" of this particular kind of nonfiction... Well, a couple of these pieces I didn't care for. The hand-by-hand description of a poker tournament, for instance, was pretty much guaranteed to put a glazed look on my face, no matter how much testosterone and adrenalin the author tried to inject. But otherwise the writing ranged from moderately interesting all the way to utterly compelling. Bill Buford's piece on soccer hooligans made me immediately go out and add the book it was excerpted from to my wishlist, even though I would pretty much never have expected to find myself interested in a book about soccer hooligans. And Lee Sandlin's discussion of World War II in the perceptions and memories of the American people and in the actual experiences of soldiers on the battlefield was as fascinating and thought-provoking as anything I've read in ages. I think this book would feel worthwhile just for those two articles alone. ( )

I love Ira Glass, so when I heard about this book, I knew I'd have to read it. I've only read a couple of the pieces so far, but I'm really enjoying it.

This book was a joy. I read many sections, even whole articles, out loud to my husband. In the same way that Ira Glass's radio show, This American Life, teaches me things and touches my heart, this collection showcases excellent journalism. ( )