Since its inception in 1915, the Best American series has become the premier annual showcase for the country's finest short fiction and nonfiction....
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reviews
Mar 08, 2010
Needleroozer
rated it: 
Another thrift store find that I picked up on half price day, so it cost me less than a dollar. Good score!
I like the Best American Series, so I scooped this up without even reading the back. Turns out the writing in this book was selected "...for readers under twenty-five...from mainstream and alternative American Periodicals." It includes "...fiction, essays, satire, journalism--and much more." (I'm not exactly sure what the "much more" consists of.)
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I like the Best American Series, so I scooped this up without even reading the back. Turns out the writing in this book was selected "...for readers under twenty-five...from mainstream and alternative American Periodicals." It includes "...fiction, essays, satire, journalism--and much more." (I'm not exactly sure what the "much more" consists of.)
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Feb 09, 2008
Kathleen
rated it: 
I skipped around between the stories, which happens when reading anthologies I suppose, but other editions have showed better variety in story structure and subject matter.
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Jan 21, 2008
Rob
rated it: 
It’s easy to see how this collection is aimed at high school students. There aren’t many stylistically groundbreaking pieces here. Almost everything is easy to read and easy to understand. But what this collection lacks in originality it makes up in subject matter and scope. Dave Eggers and his editorial advisory panel of high school students have chosen culturally conscious, literary, humorous works that when put together should entertain both avid readers and non-readers alike. I’m excited to
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Sep 09, 2009
K.B.L.
rated it:
The other years have been more entertaining with their selected pieces. In any case, I still enjoyed some of this one. The following are the stories I most enjoyed in order of appearance:
"Snacks" by Sam Lipsyte
"Stop that Girl" by Elizabeth McKenzie
"My Fake Job" by Rodney Rothman
"Forth Angry Mouse" by David Schickler
"Why McDonalds Fries Taste So Good" by Eric Schlosser
"Blood Poison" by Heidi Jon Schmidt
"Snacks" by Sam Lipsyte
"Stop that Girl" by Elizabeth McKenzie
"My Fake Job" by Rodney Rothman
"Forth Angry Mouse" by David Schickler
"Why McDonalds Fries Taste So Good" by Eric Schlosser
"Blood Poison" by Heidi Jon Schmidt
Apr 17, 2009
Barbara
rated it:
I used it for my reflective writing course and the students really liked the Onion articles and the Eggers intro. So much so that they wanted the conclusion of the first one since I of course forgot to include the last page.
Like all essay collections, there are ones that I like and ones am ennhh about. The Onion ones were pretty good.
Like all essay collections, there are ones that I like and ones am ennhh about. The Onion ones were pretty good.
Jun 26, 2011
Kyle
rated it:
This first collection of "The Best American Nonrequired Reading" feels condescending. It's a feeling that I never felt from later collections, but something ever present in this debut. I can only assume it comes from the "stories for the under-25 crowd" blurb on the back cover. The entire collection felt like shitty drivel until the last three stories: Gary Smith, Adrian Tomine, and Zoe Trope all crafted breathtaking stories.
Jan 30, 2012
Ie
rated it:
Most of the serious, nonfiction stuff were good, but the supposedly funny ones weren't. The good outweighed the bad though, and the diversity won me over because at least there was something completely different after every article, and my short attention span was happy.
I'm all for reading the more current collections and check for progress. The only other version I have is 2011, and I hate skipping all those years in between.
I'm all for reading the more current collections and check for progress. The only other version I have is 2011, and I hate skipping all those years in between.
Oct 23, 2011
Elizabeth
rated it:
This is a mixed bag- some brilliant, some so-so pieces of short fiction and non-fiction. All pieces were published in 2002, and are targeted toward 15-25 year olds (though I'd advise that they be pretty mature 15 year olds.) Edited by the ever interesting Dave Eggers.
Sep 06, 2008
Jesse
rated it:
Typically engaging, though I was a bit confused by the series editor's statement about how the material was drawn from publications "that publish material either for of interest to readers ages fifteen to twenty-five." Y'mean, like Esquire & the New Yorker & Sports Illustrated & the Atlantic Monthly & Time & the NY Times, those bastions of YA journalism?
Either way, some memorable stuff. I loved Rodney Rothman's "My Fake Job" (fabricated sections be damned, it's g More...
Either way, some memorable stuff. I loved Rodney Rothman's "My Fake Job" (fabricated sections be damned, it's g More...
Mar 10, 2009
Violet
rated it:
If this was the best, it left alot to be desired. I only thought a few of the articles were any good. Maybe four or five at the most. If I saw these articles in the magazines I probably would not have read them. Not my kind of book.
Dec 11, 2008
Mark
rated it: 
The Best American Nonrequired series has a lot of terrific writing in it. More than a few times I've liked the stories so much I went and read more by the authors. Very good stories in all of em' :)
Jun 26, 2011
Anh
rated it:
As is true with all kinds of collections, this book has the good and the bad. Perhaps two or three will stick for a while--one of them is certainly "My fake job," a satirical look into the purposelessness and expendability in corporation offices.
Dec 20, 2010
Peacegal
rated it:
While the mix of fiction and nonfiction could be a little jarring, this was a mostly pleasing collection. I don’t understand why it’s being marketed to “readers under 25”—really, anyone could enjoy the Nonrequired series.
The only two entries I disliked were “Blood Poison,” which just left a bad taste in my mouth, and “The Freshman,” a convoluted teenage diary/livejournal/blog/something. (By the way, now I know why people say Dave Eggers is full of himself. He has only a brief essay More...
The only two entries I disliked were “Blood Poison,” which just left a bad taste in my mouth, and “The Freshman,” a convoluted teenage diary/livejournal/blog/something. (By the way, now I know why people say Dave Eggers is full of himself. He has only a brief essay More...
Apr 15, 2009
Windy
rated it:
I've made several stories in here required reading. Perhaps that defeats the entire purpose, but I enjoy the irony... and besides, there are some good pieces in here. My students particularly enjoyed the essay "Why McDonald's Fries Taste So Good."
Feb 02, 2010
Erin
rated it:
The stories were good, despite being edited by Dave Eggers. His introduction was insufferable.
Jan 12, 2008
Adam
rated it:
This one was good, better than 2003, but not as good as 2005. If I recall correctly. The cover is ugly. Once again, I initially didn't know this was a series for high-school age folks, and so I was dismayed at the number of straightforward, navel-gazing "coming of age" stories, the kind that first-time authors write when they want to do something emotionally affecting (you know what I mean?). If you want more varied styles and a broader array of experiences, pick up a McSweeney's.
Aug 06, 2008
Sarah
rated it:
I couldn't remember if I had read 2002 yet, so when I found it on Amazon for $.01 with $1.99 shipping I went for it. It is one of my favorites so far, and I'm still not sure if I've read it before or not. In reading the introduction I realized that this series is for young adults (15-25 year olds). I like to think that makes me hip, reading what the young kids do and all.
May 10, 2009
Abby
rated it:
Borrowed this book for the flight back to LA. Although it aims itself at an audience 25 years old and under, I enjoyed it a lot. My favorite piece was Dave Eggers's own, coyly snuck into the introduction, which seemed a little shifty since he has magazine and books of his own, but nonetheless fun to read.
Jul 01, 2008
Igor
rated it:
My favorite story in this collection is called "Over the River and Through the Woods" or something close to that. I remember thinking it was one of the best short stories I'd read.
The other fascinating short piece is "Why McDonald's French Fries Taste So Good," which I'd highly recommend reading.
The other fascinating short piece is "Why McDonald's French Fries Taste So Good," which I'd highly recommend reading.
Mar 14, 2008
eli!
rated it:
this volume was pretty much the one that hooked me. found a copy at the library with a different cover and thought it was one i hadn't read, only to find my own copy sitting on the shelf at home. but the stories immediately came back when i thumbed through it. a classic, really.
Dec 08, 2007
Ashley
rated it:
Nice sample; and reminder of the fact that I'm only 5 years behind cutting edge literature. Overall i think I'd be interested in reading Kissing in Manhattan by David Schickler, Notes to a Potential Lover by Jenny Bitner and am now hooked on Gary Smith as a sports writer.
Nov 16, 2008
Emily
rated it:
some fun selections in here, along with some inane ones ("don't kill the freshman," for example. i just can't sympathize with the ramblings of a 14-year-old). eggers' intro felt very self-indulgent. i wished the nonfiction pieces could've been longer.
Apr 20, 2011
Jo Ann
rated it:
I read this book on the plane to and from Minneapolis, as all the books I'd started were hardback and too heavy for travel. I really enjoyed some of the short stories, but I'm not really a "short story" fan, so on the whole, I'm giving it a 3.
Apr 30, 2008
Schuyler
rated it:
Okay, I haven't read this whole compilation. I've maybe read more than half of the stories. My five star rating is hinged entirely on the introduction/story by Dave Eggers. It is quite simply one of the best short stories I have ever read.
Apr 22, 2008
Meredith
rated it:
So far my favorite NONREQUIRED READING has been this past year's. This is the first edition, and while a little hit and miss, still a very solid collection of stories.
