Talking To Strangers

"In this updated collection of literary essays, interviews, prefaces, personal notes, and occasional writings, including... (more)

"In this updated collection of literary essays, interviews, prefaces, personal notes, and occasional writings, including poignant and illuminating appreciations of other poets and novelists and of New York City life, Paul Auster offers not only samplings but insights into the first fifty years of his brilliant writing career. Through critical readings of literary greats such as Hawthorne, Poe, Beckett and Kafka, as well as less well-appreciated poets from George Oppen to Laura Riding, Auster celebrates the achievements of his fellow authors while probing the constraints of language and considering the relationships between writers and the works they create. In addition, through an offering of highly personal notes, essays, and interviews dating back to his student days at Columbia in the 1960s, Auster turns the light on himself, exposing readers to the myriad of topics and inspirations that have shaped his work. From sitting in the bleachers at a Mets game to discussing the Dada art movement, from witnessing the death-defying performances of high-wire artist Philippe Petit to reflecting on the events of September 11th, Auster ushers readers into his thinking across fifty years and through a wide-reaching literary world. Sprawling in scope and subject, local in outlook, Talking to Strangers paints a vivid and intimate portrait of the man behind the page who has long captivated readers around the world"-- (less)

The popular podcast host and author explores how people interact with strangers and why these exchanges often go wrong, ... (more)

The popular podcast host and author explores how people interact with strangers and why these exchanges often go wrong, offering strategic tips for more accurate and productive interactions. (less)

"For fans of Wild Wild Country, Scientology and the Aftermath and Uncover: Escaping NXIVM, a stunning graphic memoir abo... (more)

"For fans of Wild Wild Country, Scientology and the Aftermath and Uncover: Escaping NXIVM, a stunning graphic memoir about a teenage girl who was lured into a cult and later fought to escape and reclaim her identity. Welcome to a place where you are valued. Where everyone is kind. Where you can be your truest self. In 1980, Marianne Boucher felt like a misfit. To the world, she was a high school student with a bright future as a powerhouse figure skater. But she always felt like she was performing--both on the ice and off. And then she found her people. Kind, open-minded and totally different. They didn't care about society's norms and expectations--they valued authenticity and compassion above all else. And they liked her. Not Marianne the performance, but Marianne the person, stripped of her veneer. Soon, she'd abandoned school, her skating and, most dramatically, her family to live with her new friends and help them fulfill their mission of "changing the world." She was sure the sacrifices they asked of her would be worth it. They were helping people, and they cared about her . . . didn't they? Talking to Strangers is the true story of Marianne Boucher's experiences in a cult that brainwashed her and took over her life. Told in stunning graphic memoir form, with vivid text and art alike, Marianne shares how she fell in with the Unification Church--or the "Moonies"--and how she eventually, painfully, pulled herself out."-- (less)

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