The Press Box The American Canto Book Club, ESPN and Lane Kiffin, and Covering the NFL During the Holidays
21 snips
Dec 5, 2025 The hosts delve into Olivia Nuzzi's book 'American Canto,' critiquing its structure and examining its ambitions. They ponder the future of Nuzzi's career while highlighting her vivid writing style. The conversation shifts to Lane Kiffin's coaching saga and controversies surrounding ESPN's 'College GameDay.' They also discuss Paul Finebaum's decision not to run for Senate and Erin Andrews' reflections on the sacrifices in sports media. The episode wraps up with thoughtful insights on the complexities of journalism and sports.
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Memoir Undermined By Structure
- Olivia Nuzzi's American Kanto is rescuable but hampered by poor editing and structure that scatter events and blur chronology.
- Bryan Curtis and Joel Anderson say the book's fragmented sections and lack of chapters make it a slog until the middle third.
Four Aims, One Blurred Story
- Nuzzi attempts four aims: a love story, a Trump-era chronicle, personal grief, and Malibu exile, which compete and dilute focus.
- Joel and Bryan argue that mixing those aims without a clear through line lessens the book's impact.
Memoir Feels Like Fresh Diary Entries
- The book reads like stream-of-consciousness diary entries, lacking distance and editorial guidance.
- Joel says her freshness to memoir and absence of mentors explains why the book feels unresolved and raw.
