Download How to Be Alone: Essays Audiobook (Unabridged)

" This collection of essays contains a heavy dose of the introspection that makes Franzen such a tremendous writer. More than any other writer I know of today, Franzen captures the tension between modern life and the virtuous life, particularly the tension between the simple utility-maximizing nature of technological advancements and the more effort-requiring joys of reading, thinking, and getting along with each other (or choosing to go it alone). "

" A nice collection of essays that kept me company during a semester in Moscow "

" A compilation of essays by Jonathon Franzen on being both a writer and reader. "

" Confirmed my faith in Franzen. Love the way he launches from personal observations to reflections on the global and human condition. Despairing yet wry. Self-possessed but never self-indulgent. "

" I just could not bring myself to finish this book. It started out so damn strong, the first essay knocked my socks off - but, then...I found it hard to digest the incessant self-doubt and what can only be described as whining about "how difficult it is to be a writer" and the constant pondering about his "relevance." Oh holy shit, grow up and stop being so damned self-indulgent. He reminded me of the points when I loathed grad school. "

" I loved The Corrections, but Franzen comes off as a holier-than-thou techno-phobe in this. "

" Perfectly describes how it feels to be a lifelong reader. Loved it. "

" Jonathan Franzen is the writing world's equivalent to Joe Friday. Somehow Franzen manages to give us Just The Emotions. His stories and essays move on with colorful and fully formed worlds, but what stays behind is the emotions engendered in being a human living in those worlds. In How To Be Alone Jonathan Franzen reveals himself, and validates the experience of all "social isolates." I read this book in a library edition, and then I bought myself a hard copy (not Kindle) because it is essential reading. "

" Franzen is a sexist pig who can bite me, but dude can write an essay. "

" Mostly fantastic - there were a couple of boring parts but most of the essays were riveting. "

" Overwritten garbage. It's one thing to show off your vocabulary and intellectual expansiveness, it's another to bore me at the same time. It's amazing because I love his fiction. This is wannabe David Foster Wallace without a heart. "

" bart lent me this book in new zealand, and it reminded me how books are my best friend in hard times. in all the best ways ! plus the essay on the chicago postal service is just so fascinating. "

" Honestly, Franzen is a bit of a brat. Especially in "Mr. Difficult". If a novel is too hard for him then he should just put it down and not wail about it in an editorial. "

" on my first ever reading of him, Franzen strikes me as being the "Mr. Glass" to Hunter S. Thompson's UNBREAKABLE. "

" It was interesting to read a book that mostly I disagreed with mildly. On the social issues, I thought he was mostly right, but I disagreed with many of his conclusions. But what he said about readers and the novel really resonated with me. "

" Franzen comes across as rather arrogant (again) but he backs that sh*t up by being an incredible writer and he remains one of my favorites. "

" Great collection from a smart, engaging writer. Subjects include Supermax prisons, appearing on Oprah, sex books, post offices, and more. Consistently informative and compelling, no matter the subject. "

" Disappointing. Unless you really want to know what Jonathan Franzen was thinking about in the 1990s, skip it. "

" Better than I write. That is all. "

" I learned that I really like what Jonathan Franzen has to say about reading and writing and that I want to go and read The Corrections now. Also, I needed to dig up my dictionary. This guy uses some WORDS! "

" Some essays are great, some are a chore to read, and some are alright. "