Ross Gay's "Inciting Joy" delves into the transformative power of joy, challenging its dismissal as frivolous. Gay explores how joy can be a radical act of resistance and belonging, particularly amidst grief and sorrow. The essays examine rituals and habits that foster joy, emphasizing its role in building solidarity and care. The book encourages readers to embrace joy as a practice, not just an emotion, and to find connection through shared experiences of sorrow. Gay's personal reflections and insightful observations make "Inciting Joy" a compelling read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of joy's significance.
In *The Book of Delights*, Ross Gay offers a genre-defying volume of short, lyrical essays written over one tumultuous year. These 'essayettes,' in the manner of Montaigne, capture Gay’s daily observations and experiences, ranging from the beauty of the natural world to the complexities of race and masculinity. The book emphasizes the importance of delight as a bulwark against casual cruelties and as a way to connect with others, highlighting the shared humanity and mortality that bind us. Gay’s essays are both intimate and political, never shying away from the terrors of living in America while celebrating the small joys that make life worth observing closely[1][3][5].
This book is a sustained meditation on the themes of death, life, and the natural world. It finds solace in the processes of gardens and orchards, where death, sorrow, and loss are converted into nourishing elements. The poems are intimate, conversational, and rooted in personal experiences, highlighting the importance of gratitude and the interconnectedness of human experiences. The collection addresses various emotions, from sorrow and loss to joy and gratitude, and celebrates the beauty and abundance of life[1][3][4].
It can be so easy to dismiss joy as frivolous or not serious, especially in times of crisis or despair. But for poet Ross Gay, joy can be a radical and necessary act of resistance and belonging. In his new essay collection, "Inciting Joy," Gay explores the rituals and habits that make joy more available to us, as well as the ways that joy can contribute to a deeper sense of solidarity and care. In this episode of Life As It Is, Tricycle’s editor-in-chief, James Shaheen, and co-host Sharon Salzberg sit down with Gay to talk about finding joy in the midst of grief and sorrow, the dangers of believing ourselves to be self-sufficient, and how joy can dissolve the boundaries between us.
Tricycle Talks 
