Read Harder

Read Hard

by Heidi Julavits (Editor), Ed Park (Editor)

This volume collects the finest essays from the second half of the Believer 's decade-long (and counting) run. The Believer , the McSweeney's-published four-time nominee for the National Magazine Award, is beloved for tackling everything from pop culture to ancient literature with the same sagacity and wit, and this collection cements that reputation with pieces as wildly diverse as the magazine itself. Featured articles include Nick Hornby on his first job, Rebecca Taylor on her time acting in no-budget horror movies, Francisco Goldman on the failings of memoir in dealing with personal tragedy, Megan Abbott and Sara Gran on V.C. Andrews and the secret life of girls, and Brian T. Edwards on Western pop culture's influence on Iran. Read Harder collects some of the finest nonfiction writing published in America today, from the profound to the absurd, the crushing to the uplifting. As the Believer enters its second decade, Read Harder serves as both an essential primer for one of the finest, strangest magazines in the country, and an indispensable stand-alone volume.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays

336 pages, Paperback

First published September 9, 2014

About the author

Heidi Suzanne Julavits is an American author and co-editor of The Believer magazine. She has been published in The Best Creative Nonfiction Vol. 2, Esquire, Story, Zoetrope All-Story, and McSweeney's Quarterly. Her novels include The Mineral Palace (2000), The Effect of Living Backwards (2003) and The Uses of Enchantment (2006) and The Vanishers (2012).

She was born and grew up in Portland, Maine, before attending Dartmouth College. She later went on to earn an MFA from Columbia University.

She wrote the article "Rejoice! Believe! Be Strong and Read Hard!" (subtitled: "A Call For A New Era Of Experimentation, and a Book Culture That Will Support It") in the debut issue of The Believer, a publication which attempts to avoid snarkiness and "give people and books the benefit of the doubt."

In 2005, she told the New York Times culture writer A.O. Scott how'd she decided on The Believer's tone: "I really saw 'the end of the book' as originating in the way books are talked about now in our culture and especially in the most esteemed venues for book criticism. It seemed as though their irrelevance was a foregone conclusion, and we were just practicing this quaint exercise of pretending something mattered when of course everyone knew it didn't." She added her own aim as book critic would be "to endow something with importance, by treating it as an emotional experience."

She has also written short stories, such as "The Santosbrazzi Killer", which was published in Harper's Magazine.

Julavitz currently lives in Maine and Manhattan with her husband, the writer Ben Marcus, and their children

Reviews

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of literary essays from a magazine I've never heard of, but then I'm a cultural barbarian. Some are fun, some I didn't finish, I fear if I read too much of this stuff I may wind up with a new wardrobe pretending to be tragically hip.

[Elliot Chalom · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you told me the topics that are covered in this book and asked me if I'd find the pieces interesting, I'd tell you no way. But most (not all) of the pieces in Read Harder were great reads, and some even taught me things and got me thinking. Reminds me of the non-fiction of David Foster Wallace - totally random , usually captivating, often thought-provoking. I'll probably come back for the first in this series.

[Mr. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of essays--some entertaining and insightful and some that I could have done without. An interesting range of writing styles.

[Frank · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couple of very good pieces (Nick Hornby's, the one about ultrarunning stand out), a lot of stuff that's okay. Maybe I'll subscribe.

[Tim Timberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and well-written essays about a variety of subject, although Freud makes a few appearances.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its a nice leisure read on various people and subjects. I've purchased a few Believer publications, its a good read. As i get older i find myself more sceptical of non-fiction, and for good reason, i found a lot of the ideas and statements presented as factual were slanted to support the authors view salon-like

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Unresilent by Francisco Goldman (relevant to a # of things of things I've read recently, all about how memoirs can be an inadequate form to convey The Truth)

[Mills College Library]

814.6 R283 2014

[Leslie Zampetti · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful compilation of essays on various eclectic topics. Fans of nonfiction writing should pick this one up. It would make a nice traveling companion instead of the usual magazines.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good variety of short stories and a good variety of authors. In the handful I read the topics ranged from historical to racial tension to humor. Check it out!

[Warren-Newport Public Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good variety of short stories and a good variety of authors. In the handful I read the topics ranged from historical to racial tension to humor. Check it out! (Jessica)

[Roland Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A firm four stars.

[Eddie Zelenak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some articles were great, others were just mediocre. Topics covered are diverse and all over the place, which is why I wanted to read this, but the execution on some lacked a clear, concise punch.