Jennifer Egan, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist known for "A Visit from the Goon Squad," discusses her unique writing process and the discipline that shapes it. She candidly shares about panic attacks and how writing helps navigate anxiety. The conversation dives into society's obsession with authenticity, the implications of AI in literature, and the disparity between social media personas and true self-expressions. Egan's wit and insights create a thought-provoking dialogue on curiosity, success, and the evolving landscape of storytelling.
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Panic and Writing
Jennifer Egan's panic attacks while backpacking in Europe led her to discover writing's importance.
Writing helped her process both terrifying and joyous experiences, giving them meaning.
insights INSIGHT
Smarter Writing
Egan feels smarter when writing, making discoveries she can't in conversation.
Handwriting, especially cursive, creates a meditative state enhancing her thinking.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Handwriting Benefits
Handwriting can be beneficial for writers because it reduces self-censorship.
The act of writing by hand makes it harder to see flaws, allowing for freer expression.
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In 'The Candy House,' Jennifer Egan presents a series of interconnected stories that follow the lives of multiple characters over several decades. The novel centers around Bix Bouton's technology, 'Own Your Unconscious,' which enables people to upload and share their memories. This technology has profound effects on society, creating 'counters' who exploit desires and 'eluders' who resist the allure of this digital collective consciousness. The book is characterized by its diverse narrative styles, including omniscient narration, first-person plural, epistolary chapters, and even a chapter composed of tweets. Egan's work is a moving testament to human longing for connection, family, privacy, and love, set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing digital world[1][2][4].
Emerald City
stories
Victoria Glendinning
Jennifer Egan
A Visit from the Goon Squad
Jennifer Egan
The Dark Tower series
Stephen King
The Keep
Jennifer Egan
While details about Jennifer Egan's "The Keep" are limited in readily available information, it is known to be a work of fiction by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Given Egan's style, it likely explores complex themes and characters with a unique narrative structure. The novel's setting and plot specifics remain to be further investigated. It is anticipated that "The Keep" showcases Egan's signature blend of experimental storytelling and insightful character development. Further research into reviews and summaries would provide a more comprehensive understanding of the book's content and themes.
The image
Daniel J. Boorstin
Daniel J. Boorstin's "The Image" is a seminal work in media studies, exploring the impact of mass media on shaping public perception and the erosion of the distinction between reality and its representation. Boorstin argues that the proliferation of images and pseudo-events leads to a decline in genuine experience and critical thinking. The book examines how media representations influence our understanding of history, politics, and culture, often substituting fabricated narratives for authentic events. Boorstin's analysis remains relevant in the age of digital media, where the line between reality and its representation continues to blur. His work serves as a cautionary tale about the potential for media to manipulate and distort our understanding of the world.
The invisible circus
Jennifer Egan
Set in 1978, 'The Invisible Circus' follows Phoebe O'Connor as she travels through Europe to understand the mysterious death of her sister Faith, who died in Italy eight years earlier. The novel explores themes of family, love, and identity against the backdrop of the 1960s counterculture. Through Phoebe's journey, Egan masterfully weaves a narrative of self-discovery and emotional growth.
Look at Me
Jennifer Egan
Look at Me is a novel by Jennifer Egan that delves into themes of identity, self, and societal perceptions. The story centers around Charlotte Swenson, a fashion model who undergoes reconstructive surgery after a car accident, and explores how her transformation affects her life and relationships. The novel also weaves together narratives of other characters grappling with their own identities and societal expectations.
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Jennifer Egan is not only a novelist, she's also written short stories and award-winning magazine journalism. She's one of those writers who can both spin a fascinating yarn and load it up with insights into everything from human nature to the future of technology, all while pulling off bewitching turns of phrase; what the writer Jonathan Franzen has called “micro felicities.”
Egan is as funny, fascinating, and open IRL as she is on the page although it’s not clear she feels that way given she talks about how much smarter she feels in writing than in speaking!
In this episode we talk about:
Egan’s writing process
The power of writing by hand
The shocking, relentless, ruthless discipline that she imposes on herself to never do the same thing twice as she’s writing
10% Happier with Dan Harris 
