false 43422 4 This is the second year we've put this book together, and we're beginning to have some idea of what we're doing. But do we know exactly what this book is? We do not. The original purpose of the collection was to introduce younger readers--high school and college-age people, more or less--to good writing from contemporary writers. But then the book came out and we discovered that the readership was not what we'd expected. Sure, there were some high school and college readers, but there were also older readers, and younger readers, and readers from every walk of life—police officers, firefighters, animal control experts, air-conditioning repair technicians, and prisoners. It runs the gamut.<BR> Now, your questions answered:<BR><BR>What is the purpose of this book? —Dominique, Santa Monica, CA<BR> Thank you for your question, Dominique. (Such a lovely name!) The purpose of this book is to collect good work of any kind—fiction, humor, essays, comics, journalism—in one place, for the English-reading consumer. The other books in the Best American series are limited by their categories, most particularly the popular but constraining Best American Catholic Badger Mystery Writing. This collection is not so limited, which is why, we think, it dominates all similar collections, making them whimper and cower in a way that is shameful.<BR><BR>Why aren't there more pieces about badgers? —Reginald, Myrtle Beach, SC<BR> We had plans to include at least seven pieces about badgers—their manufacture, appearance, and care—but were prevented from doing so by Zadie Smith. This was a condition of her inclusion in this volume.<BR><BR>In addition to the pieces included in the collection, and Ms. Smith's introduction—or whatever it is—will there be a piece by the editor about a young man with a crush on a sixty-five-year-old woman whose lawn he cuts? —Peter and Nam Mee, Washington, DC<BR> We might have such a piece. It might be immediately following this sentence.<BR><BR>(From the Foreword by Dave Eggers)<BR><BR>Since its inception in 1915, the Best American series has become the premier annual showcase for the country's finest short fiction and nonfiction. For each volume, the very best pieces are selected by an editor who is widely recognized as a leading writer in his or her field, making the Best American series the most respected--and most popular--of its kind.<BR> Dave Eggers, who will be editing The Best American Nonrequired Reading annually, has once again chosen the best and least-expected fiction, nonfiction, satire, investigative reporting, alternative comics, and more from publications large, small, and on-line--The Onion, The New Yorker, Shout, Time, Zoetrope, Tin House, Nerve.com,and McSweeney's, to name just a few. Read on for "Some of the best literature you haven't been reading . . . And it's fantastic. All of it." (St. Petersburg Times).<BR><BR>Lynda Barry<BR>Jonathan Safran Foer<BR>Lisa Gabriele<BR>Andrea Lee<BR>J. T. Leroy<BR>Nasdijj<BR>ZZ Packer<BR>David Sedaris 1992687 2003 The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2003 (The Best American Series (TM)) total:733|5:154|4:372|3:185|2:21|1:1| 733 2856 949 51 4 1 false false Tue Feb 10 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Mon Jan 05 22:18:51 -0800 2009 Tue Feb 10 12:19:47 -0800 2009 3 0 false false Sun Jun 28 20:01:18 -0700 2009 Sun Jun 28 20:38:00 -0700 2009 Both JT Leroy and Nasdijj contributed to this book. Both later turned out not to be actual people. Or something. It was confusing. And book people tend to get mad when you say that you are a self-taught native...more...]]> 4 1 false false Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 -0800 2004 Tue May 22 10:53:23 -0700 2007 Tue May 22 10:53:23 -0700 2007 3 0 false false Wed Feb 06 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Sat Jan 19 07:53:25 -0800 2008 Wed Feb 06 15:53:28 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Tue Aug 07 10:10:18 -0700 2007 Sun Nov 11 06:26:49 -0800 2007 more...]]> 3 0 false false Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Mon Sep 24 17:51:06 -0700 2007 Mon Sep 24 17:54:44 -0700 2007 more...]]> 2 0 false false Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Sun Nov 23 04:03:15 -0800 2008 Mon Dec 01 02:36:47 -0800 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Tue May 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Mon May 07 16:24:19 -0700 2007 Sun Jul 22 12:34:40 -0700 2007
I'm mostly interested in selections involving heinous dictators: The Littlest Hitler and Tales of a Tyrant, an examination of the life of Saddam Hussein! I don't know why, but they're the most engaging pieces I've read thus far, and they're absolutely nothing alike. I mean, I'm pr...more...]]> 2 0 false false Thu Mar 06 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Tue Dec 18 10:49:50 -0800 2007 Fri Mar 07 20:36:30 -0800 2008 more...]]> 0 0 false false Wed Jun 17 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Jun 05 22:51:52 -0700 2009 Wed Jun 17 19:57:56 -0700 2009 5 0 false false Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 -0700 2007 Sun Oct 07 09:08:47 -0700 2007 Thu Oct 18 11:59:19 -0700 2007 more...]]> 4 0 false false Mon Apr 14 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Fri Apr 18 09:05:57 -0700 2008 Fri Apr 18 09:09:13 -0700 2008 more...]]> 3 0 true false Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Sat Jan 12 18:27:29 -0800 2008 Fri Feb 08 16:30:56 -0800 2008
'The Meticulous Grove of Black and Green' -Michael Buckley

'Visiting Hours' -Judy Budnitz

'Things We Knew When the House Caught Fire' -David Drury

'Love and Other Catastrophes: A Mix Tape' -Amanda Holzer

'Stuff' J.T. Leroy
...more...]]> 3 0 false false Sun Nov 02 17:43:29 -0800 2008 Sun Nov 02 20:12:46 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Fri Feb 29 09:30:45 -0800 2008 Fri Feb 29 09:33:07 -0800 2008 more...]]> 4 0 false false Tue Jul 29 11:30:16 -0700 2008 Tue Jul 29 11:40:30 -0700 2008 4 0 false false Thu Jun 19 15:10:44 -0700 2008 Thu Jun 19 15:12:28 -0700 2008 more...]]> 3 0 false false Tue Mar 31 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Mar 05 20:58:12 -0800 2009 Tue Mar 31 02:01:36 -0700 2009 3 0 false false Sat Jan 12 22:47:57 -0800 2008 Sat Jan 12 22:47:57 -0800 2008 4 0 false false Mon Oct 01 15:27:10 -0700 2007 Mon May 19 11:26:48 -0700 2008