Surviving Crisis

by Lee Gutkind

A guide offering insights into a moment of catharsis that shaped a well-known writers' life features essays by John McPhee, John Edgar Wideman, Cynthia Ozick, Annie Dillard, and others designed to inspire would-be writers to put pen to paper. Reprint. 15,000 first printing.

Genres: Essays

237 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Lee Gutkind has been recognized by Vanity Fair as “the godfather behind creative nonfiction.” A prolific writer, he has authored and edited over twenty-five books, and is the founder and editor of Creative Nonfiction, the first and largest literary magazine to publish only narrative nonfiction. Gutkind has received grants, honors, and awards from numerous organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Science Foundation. A man of many talents, Gutkind has been a motorcyclist, medical insider, sports expert, sailor, and college professor. He is currently distinguished writer in residence in the Consortium for Science, Policy, and Outcomes at Arizona State University and a professor in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication.

Reviews

[Dianelw]

From my mother's bookshelf: a lot of masters of the art of creative non-fiction write heartfelt accounts on life encounters with crisis, tragedy, aging, and disease. Some good pieces here by writers like John McPhee, Annie Dillard, Cynthia Ozick, and Andre Dubus.

[Dawn Davies]

I think this is an important book, and a must-read for essay writers, memoirists, autopathographists, and anyone studying the genre of creative nonfiction. Lee Gutkind is a good writer, a thoughtful and exceptionally good editor, and a wonderful thinker. I admire his dedication to and understanding of creative nonfiction as a genre.

This anthology is lovely. I appreciate every essay featured, but especially love Lauren Slater's "Three Spheres," John Edgar Wideman's "At the Penitentiary." This is an excerpt of his wonderful book. Brothers and Keepers.

Also worth mentioning are "Cold Sweat" by Scott Murphy and Judy Ruiz's "The Mother, the Daughter, and the Holy Horse."

Also worth mentioning are every other essay and every other author in the anthology.

I highly recommend this collection of essays.

[Emmett Racecar]

I found myself skipping over some of these stories, but then there were others that really stuck with me. It has been 10 years since I read it and I can still recall a few of the stories vividly-- both horrific at times and inspiring. It you take it on a story by story basis it is a fascinating read.