Hogs Wild: Selected Reporting Pieces

by Ian Frazier

PART MUCKRAKER, PART ADVENTURER, AND PART RACONTEUR, FRAZIER BEHOLDS, CAPTURES, AND OCCASIONALLY REIMAGINES THE SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE. HOGS WILD OFFERS US AN UTTERLY UNIQUE BRAND OF INQUIRY WITHOUT AN AGENDA, CURIOSITY WITHOUT CALCULATION.

"A master of both distilled insight and utter nonsense" (The Believer), Ian Frazier is one of contemporary America’s most gifted chroniclers. While travelling down south to examine feral hogs, he learns that their presence in a county is a strong indication it votes Republican. He introduces us to a man who, when his house is hit by a supposed meteorite, hopes to transform the errant object into an opportunity for his family, and follows a New York City detective fascinated with rap-music-related crimes. Alongside delighting in the absurdities of contemporary life, the collection further exposes our social pieces on soup kitchens, opioid overdose deaths in Staten Island, and the rise of homelessness in New York City under Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

To read Frazier is to become a kind of social and political anthropologist―astute and deeply engaged―with humor never too far behind.

Genres: Essays, Nonfiction, Travel, Humor, Journalism

384 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2016

About the author

Ian Frazier (b.1951) is an American writer and humorist. He is the author of Travels in Siberia, Great Plains, On the Rez, Lamentations of the Father and Coyote V. Acme, among other works, all published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. He graduated from Harvard University. A frequent contributor to The New Yorker, he lives in Montclair, New Jersey.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/ianfra...

Reviews

[Howard · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really, really liked two of Frazier's earlier books: Great Plains and On the Rez. Unfortunately, I found that many of the essays in Hogs Wild failed to engage my interests. For one thing, too many of them were set in New York. Somebody from there might like that, but I thought there were too many of them.

As you can tell by the two books that I mentioned in the opening sentence, I prefer his writing about his travels to the great outdoors.

[Kathy Leland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ian Frazier is one of my favorite non-fiction writers -- after I read his amazing book Great Plains, I was hooked. This is a collection of essays, many of which have appeared in the New Yorker, and if he lands on a topic that even slightly interests you, you'll be lured in by his journalistic yet quirky prose style. He has a genius for adding heft to simple facts and details, and he always examines his topics in multiple and sometimes startling ways. One of his best skills as an essayist is the ability to coherently link disparate parts about a subject in meaningful ways that often include background history, close examinations of people, and (always) a thorough exploration.

[Julietta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting collection of non-fiction articles whose author uses an ethnographic approach to learning about scientific topics. Occasionally, there was too much minutiae for my liking, but often humor overrode the former.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent set of essays/short articles. I enjoyed his writing much more here than that of the last book I read about traveling through the most northerly inhabited places.

[Danny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good collection of "essays" (mostly magazine articles?) by an author with whom I was previously unfamiliar. Frazier's pieces are all written first-person, usually involving him giving a direct account of the people and places he is reporting on. He tackles a wide variety of subjects from homelessness and opioid addiction to the growing feral hog population. All but one or two were fascinating, despite the seemingly random assortment of topics. Many pieces are based in New York City and he really has a knack for bringing a place to life and making it a character in the narrative. Happy I picked this one up based on a single recommendation!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of essays/long format articles addresses a variety of topics such as hunger, homelessness, the environment, the opioid crisis, and even feral hogs. What made them so informative and compelling to read was that the author focused on the individuals who are working on creative solutions to many of the problems facing us today, and that gives me hope for the future.

[Kacey Nicosia · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best collection of essays I have ever had the pleasure of indulging in. Not only does it capture America through the lense of specific stories, it speaks on nature and the power of human connection. I read a few essays a day and loved telling people what I had learned. Fantastic read.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I consider myself pretty well-read, but until about a month ago, I'd never heard of Ian Frazier. But, by chance I saw his earlier work "Gone to New York: Adventures in the City" in the local library, gave it a read, and was highly impressed with his work, so I added some other titles of his to my list.

He is an excellent writer, and can convey despair and absurdity with equal care.

[Jeffrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Recommended by MeatEater pitchman Rinella's reading list. Mostly dated virtue signaling hogwash and liberal propaganda. There were some good essays included however. Some funny bits and orchestrated compassion. Despite all that I learned a quite a bit. Good writer but I wouldn't bother re-reading it down the road. This one will be going into the thrift bookstore box instead of on my bookshelves.

[Cat. · Rating 4 out of 5]

These were a lot of fun to read, but I can't finish the book. I've had it from the library for almost six weeks and I'm just not in the right head-space for it.
The wild pigs essay was delightful, however.

[Kaleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an interesting read: there were some stories I found well-written and riveting, and others I found myself zoning out and wondering why there was so much detail.
Over-all, this book was good, and a deviation from what I would ordinarily read.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am very glad I read this. It varies wildly on essays about New Yorker writers, homelessness, horseshoe crabs, wild hogs, the opioid epidemic and more. I love his mind, his excursion into the people and creatures he writes about and his curiosity. It’s a beautiful collection.

[Seth the Zest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frazier's prose is so well-crafted that I'm happy to read anything he's written. This collection of reportage features a wide variety of pieces that call to mind the world of about 15 years ago while also remaining pertinent now. I think Hidden City is probably the piece most pertinent today.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Essays about homeless populations in New York, wild hogs, horseshoe crabs, etc. Quality writing but he content was generally not that enthralling. Imagine ‘this American life’ with more science.

[Kristin Evans · Rating 2 out of 5]

Normally I like these kinds of books. Ian Frazier is a good writer and I enjoyed some of the pieces.
As a whole, though, it wasn't one of my favorites.

[Adrian · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me two years to read this, which is ok. Basically, it’s just a collection of his New Yorker stores I had probably read them already. Pick up Travels in Siberia instead.

[Brian Rankin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting reading and you will learn something about fly fishing in MT, feeding the poor in NY, the source of a Bob Dylan song, the toll from Hurricane Sandy, horseshoe crabs and wild hogs.

[Sj · Rating 2 out of 5]

Several essays on a wide range of subjects, many of them in NYC. I like his writing style.

[Judi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wide array of topics covered with wit and care.

[Olga Vannucci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nature running wild, and
People too, on Staten Island,
Plus hogs and carp and fungus,
all in abundance.

[Barbara Q · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a collection of pieces previously published in Mother Jones, The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly and Outside magazines. It's an eclectic mix and all fascinating (to me anyway). Mr. Frazier writes of the homeless in NYC, security at tough hip-hop and rap clubs, feral hogs, Irving Berlin and his wife, the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, of a river guide on the Deschutes in Oregon, the death of Hattie Carroll, Asian carp, meteorites, Strandbeests in the Netherlands..... I am never bored, and my mind never wanders while reading anything he writes.

[John Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always enjoyed Ian Frazier's writing. These pieces bring out his curiosity, more than his usual humor, though it is in them, but more subtely. Most of the pieces take place around New York City and help us understand the city better. I liked the variety of topics in the essays. One of his stronger books, but he is a writer you can depend on for good writing.

[Hal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this one started off very strong, and then sort of dragged on, even though I like his literary asides and turns of phrase. It's a pretty long book. It probably would've been better to just read one essay per week, but it's a library book, so what can you do.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess I was expecting humor here, so I was a little disappointed, but he is a good writer. Many of the reports were interesting, though a few I just skipped over because they didn't appeal. Many touched on aspects of our generation, and those I liked best.

[Lloyd Fassett]

5/20/16 found it in June 2016 Outside magazine

[Marsmannix · Rating 2 out of 5]

just gave up. interesting but not compelling

[Fussnik · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book. want to read everything he has written. funny. informative. go get it.

[Jane]

I didn't read every single essay, but I did enjoy the ones I read. I think my favorite was about the "hip hop cop".

[vgy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some 3s,some 4s, but more 4s than 3s.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

outstanding, esp the stories about seals, Asian carp, and hurricane aftermath in Staten Island.