On with Kara Swisher Beyond ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: Margaret Atwood on Memoir, Grudges, & Getting Older
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Dec 8, 2025 
Margaret Atwood, the acclaimed Canadian author of The Handmaid's Tale, discusses her first memoir, Book of Lives. She explores the reasons for writing it in her 80s, revealing how her personal experiences shaped her creative process. Atwood shares insights on her love for nature, the duality of her identities as a writer and nature-lover, and the themes of hope within her dystopian narratives. She offers thoughts on politics, the evolution of social media, and the dark undercurrents of her writing, all while maintaining a hopeful perspective despite challenging times.
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Unexpected Cover Photoshoot Moment
- Margaret Atwood recounted being coaxed into a playful photoshoot outfit that became her memoir cover image.
- She joked she was "weak-spined" for complying and struck a "speak no evil" pose that resonated visually.
Why Memoirs Benefit From Distance
- Atwood says you generally need distance and the passing of other people's lives to write a full memoir responsibly.
- Younger memoirs tend to focus on episodes, while older writers can survey an entire life arc with perspective.
Finding Old Unpublished Work
- Atwood dug up unpublished juvenilia and called some of it "garbage," grateful it never got published.
- She also saw early promise but wouldn't stake her life on those early works.
