LARB Radio Hour Susan Orlean's "Joyride: A Memoir"
Jan 9, 2026
In this engaging conversation, bestselling author Susan Orlean shares insights from her memoir, Joyride. She discusses her initial reluctance to label it a memoir and the balancing act between confidence and humility in writing. Orlean reflects on the role of curiosity, the ethics of journalism, and the importance of adaptability in a changing media landscape. With anecdotes about handling rejection and her journey from alt-weeklies to The New Yorker, she dives deep into the intricate relationship between reporters and their subjects.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Reluctance To Claim A Memoir
- Susan Orlean resists the memoir label because of the glut of trauma-focused life stories and the self-importance memoirs imply.
- She ultimately accepted the term after overcoming psychological barriers and recognizing the book's shape.
Confidence And Humility In Writing
- Being a writer requires confidence to stand on a soapbox and claim stories will matter to others.
- That swagger must be balanced by humility so the storyteller doesn't make everything about themselves.
Curiosity As A Cultivable Habit
- Curiosity can be both innate and cultivated, and Orlean embraces being a perpetual student of the world.
- She welcomes not knowing as the chance to learn and to ask people, “Explain your world to me.”
