Why HOW TO BE ALONE is the Best Book I've Read All Year (2024)

[@sevdanaivanova6379]

Jonathan Franzen is one of my favourite writers, brilliant!

[@brianchappell4054]

I've read a fair amount of Franzen, both fiction and not. Enjoyed everything but did feel that the ending of 'Crossroads' was blah.

[@sevdanaivanova6379]

@@brianchappell4054 yes, absolutely. Still , I am hoping for new book to be released soon🤞🏻

[@mioselee]

I'm reading the first essay on his father's brain following your recommendation and I absolutely love it. I love the sentiment, the writing style, and everything. Please keep recommending!! Thank you so much, William. Also enjoying your work, Fumes. :)

[@gastondeveaux3783]

Your words are so relevant. I will pick up this book when I see it. I, like you, read because I need too. It is a lust, a constant thirst, a joy for me, and when I find someone who also feels this way, it makes me happy. Congratulations on such a great channel. Great work and thank you.

[@nolanjones1027]

Thanks for the recommendation. I've been meaning to find an essayist akin to David Wallace.

[@tomassink593]

Thanks for the recommendation! Feel like I'll enjoy this one.

[@antoninima9007]

Interesting, I'll check this collection out. I read more fiction too, but there are some powerful essay writers who really elevate this genre. I think many talented writers have so much focus on their fiction that their nonfiction is overlooked. Although some, like James Baldwin, are the inverse. His work is so good that his fiction is often overlooked.

[@parvathykutralingam4961]

Thanks...I've wanted to read this book for some time. Will try picking it up soon

[@chambersstevens3135]

Love this video. I just finished Freedom last month. Love hearing your thoughts.

[@MarkKamibaya]

I need more videos of you going through Franzen's works! A why you should read Freedom or Crossroads would be fire

[@expatlaura6531]

I love this! This wasn’t even on my radar but you’ve sold me-just ordered it and subscribed!

[@brianchappell4054]

Hey I read this within the last two years and my reaction was similar to yours. All the essays hit home to me.

[@julest5767]

I love your saying about one of your favorite novels "It makes me feel a lot more like myself." Yes, I felt very alive and like the most important part of me was resonating while listening to a professor discussing Russian short stories, George Saunders: A Swim in a Pond in the Rain!

[@williampdozier]

Those essays between stories in asiapitr are truly excellent

[@scottfry9697]

Loved your review of the book and I'm picking it up! Thank you!

[@velocitygirl8551]

Oh thank you!! I will read!

[@acollieralso]

Thanks for the review. This is going on the list.

[@williampdozier]

Hope you like it!

[@johnalderete5328]

Thanks for the video. I’ve only become aware with Franzen this year. I’m thinking of giving him a try, and although the essays sound great, I feel like I should sample one of his novels first. Should Corrections be the one, an earlier work, where’s a good place to start?

[@williampdozier]

I’d start with The Corrections or Freedom, either would work well

[@randallowen9350]

William. You must read Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan.. enjoy your videos very much mate, thank you.

[@danecory1236]

I suffer from a severe mental illness and I stopped reading fiction when I was younger (I’m 38 now). I’ve lost the ability to be present and get lost in books. I used to need them EXACTLY why you do: I felt myself there. Now I feel myself NOWHERE.

[@nigelhakeem5074]

Love this collection! I think the reason Franzen is so polarizing, is that even though he's often correct, he's still a jerk about it lol

[@TheBirdyyeses]

I’ve wanted to read one of his novels for some time, but the length and polarizing reviews have always scared me away. I’d love to see a video reviewing “Freedom”.

[@DWS205]

The Corrections is one of my favorite novels of all time. Freedom is good as well, a similar sort of family drama. Freedom is probably the easier read, but The Corrections is his masterpiece. His newest Crossroads is good as well, too.

[@ExpatRiot79]

I remember reading this years ago when it first came out. Franzen has great prose. And no one does upper-middle-class guilt like him. Like oatmeal with just a little brown sugar and one square of butter, he's utterly consumable.

[@passmethatbook]

"In this video I'm going to talk about how to be alone..." Dude I already know how! 😆 Great review though, definitely adding the book to my tbr. ❤

[@norrin_falk]

This makes me think I should give essays, in general, a try. Do you have a top 3 (not counting "How to be Alone")?

[@williampdozier]

James Baldwin, Susan Sontag, Joan Didion, and David Foster Wallace all wrote some excellent essays

[@t0dd000]

​@@williampdozierWendell Berry, Edward Abbey. Their novels are excellent as well

[@spencernorwick897]

An older rec but some really interesting essays in Thank God for the Atom Bomb by Paul Fussell.

As I am a male homosexual I write from that perspective, and although I theoretically know you are correct in saying one should embrace diverse perspectives, I feel in this hostile age when the ' other ' is avoided or rejected I try to remain true to myself, and other people of both sexes who are like me. The problem ( if it is one ) is that most heterosexual writers have no conception of millions on this planet who have a different sexual orientation. I do not avoid heterosexuality and characters in my books often are, but heterosexual authors in the main deny mine and other people like me in this very troubled and persecuting world.

[@Fatima-yc1sr]

Hi. I have a question, please could you answer me? I’d like to start reading in English but I couldn’t find the book is that good for my level of language!

[@julest5767]

obviously I don't know what your level of English is but it might help to look at Young Adult literature. There are some great books for teenage readers that would have a slightly more limited vocabulary but would still have a powerful and universal theme. Hope this is helpful and I admire your diving into reading in another language. Speaking of Young Adult books, I read one a few years ago that I loved (and I am definitely not a YOUNG adult!) The Endless Steppe by Esther Hautzig.

[@isaacnewton3514]

I’m not much of a reader but The Correction and Freedom are 2 of my favourite novels of all time. Purity was a big let down though

[@askl23]

I’d forgotten that I read this…

[@ccbarr58]

Like your skull planter

[@williampdozier]

Ty ☠️

[@Rage_Harder_Then_Relax]

Never heard of him.