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The Best American Essays 2001
This year’s Best American Essays is edited by the best-selling, award-winning writer Kathleen Norris, whose books include Dakota andThe Virgin of Bennington. “The writers in this volume invite us into hidden places: a surgical pathologist’s laboratory, the boxing gym where a college professor and his student learn unexpected lessons about discipline, pain, and growing to adulthood. There are many discoveries to be made here, and I gladly invite the reader to an uncommonly rich and rewarding book.” — Kathleen Norris
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2001
9 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
Kathleen Norris
127 books452 followersKathleen Norris was born on July 27, 1947 in Washington, D.C. She grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, as well as on her maternal grandparents’ farm in Lemmon, South Dakota.
Her sheltered upbringing left her unprepared for the world she encountered when she began attending Bennington College in Vermont. At first shocked by the unconventionality surrounding her, Norris took refuge in poetry.
After she graduated in 1969, she moved to New York City where she joined the arts scene, associated with members of the avant-garde movement including Andy Warhol, and worked for the American Academy of Poets.
In 1974, her grandmother died leaving Norris the family farm in South Dakota, and she and her future husband, the poet David Dwyer, decided to temporarily relocate there until arrangements to rent or sell the property could be made. Instead, they ended up remaining in South Dakota for the next 25 years.
Soon after moving to the rural prairie, Norris developed a relationship with the nearby Benedictine abbey, which led to her eventually becoming an oblate.
In 2000, Norris and her husband traded their farmhouse on the Great Plains for a condo in Honolulu, Hawaii, so that Norris could help care for her aging parents after her husband’s own failing health no longer permitted him to travel. Her father died in 2002, and her husband died the following year in 2003.
Her sheltered upbringing left her unprepared for the world she encountered when she began attending Bennington College in Vermont. At first shocked by the unconventionality surrounding her, Norris took refuge in poetry.
After she graduated in 1969, she moved to New York City where she joined the arts scene, associated with members of the avant-garde movement including Andy Warhol, and worked for the American Academy of Poets.
In 1974, her grandmother died leaving Norris the family farm in South Dakota, and she and her future husband, the poet David Dwyer, decided to temporarily relocate there until arrangements to rent or sell the property could be made. Instead, they ended up remaining in South Dakota for the next 25 years.
Soon after moving to the rural prairie, Norris developed a relationship with the nearby Benedictine abbey, which led to her eventually becoming an oblate.
In 2000, Norris and her husband traded their farmhouse on the Great Plains for a condo in Honolulu, Hawaii, so that Norris could help care for her aging parents after her husband’s own failing health no longer permitted him to travel. Her father died in 2002, and her husband died the following year in 2003.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 11, 2007
The best piece of writing I've ever read, EVER--Charles Bowden's "The Bone Garden of Desire"--is contained in this collection of essays.
July 16, 2018
A variety of topics in the 26 essays in this book. A good collection.
1. In the Memory of Mines by Diane Ackerman from Michigan Quarterly Review
2. How to Pray: Reverence, Stories, and the Rebbe's Dream by Ben Birnbaum from Image
3. The Bone Garden of Desire by Charles Bowden from Esquire
4. Travels with R.L.S. by James Campbell from The New York Times Book Review
5. Mail by Anne Fadiman from The American Scholar
6. The Work of Mourning by Francine du Plessix Gray from The American Scholar
7. Vin Laforge by Jeffrey Heiman from The Massachusetts Reviews
8. Calliope Times by Edward Hoagland from The New Yorker
9. India's American Imports by Adam Hochschild from The American Scholar
10. Refugium by Barbara Hurd from The Georgia Review
11. On Impact by Stephen King from The New Yorker
12. Blue Machinery of Summer by Yusef Komunyakaa from The Washington Post Magazine
13. The Midnight Tour by Marcus Laffey from The New Yorker
14. Facing the Village by Lenore Look from Mānoa
15. Book Marks by Rebecca McClanahan by The Southern Review
16. Trouble in the Tribe by Daphne Merkin from The New Yorker
17. Provincetown by David Michaelis from The American Scholar
18. Brain-Cell Memories by Spencer Nadler from Harper's Magazine
19. Dust by Mary Oliver from Shenandoah
20. Dear Harper: A Letter to a Godchild About God by Reynolds Price from Forbes ASAP
21. The Fineness of Things by Tim Robinson from The Recorder
22. Cut Time by Carlo Rotella from The American Scholar
23. Exquisite Corpse by Ashraf Rushdy from Transition
24. The Last Word by Earl Shorris from Harper's Magazine
25. On Being Breathless by Bert O. States from The Gettysburg Review
26. Upside Down and Backward by William T. Vollmann from Forbes ASAP
1. In the Memory of Mines by Diane Ackerman from Michigan Quarterly Review
2. How to Pray: Reverence, Stories, and the Rebbe's Dream by Ben Birnbaum from Image
3. The Bone Garden of Desire by Charles Bowden from Esquire
4. Travels with R.L.S. by James Campbell from The New York Times Book Review
5. Mail by Anne Fadiman from The American Scholar
6. The Work of Mourning by Francine du Plessix Gray from The American Scholar
7. Vin Laforge by Jeffrey Heiman from The Massachusetts Reviews
8. Calliope Times by Edward Hoagland from The New Yorker
9. India's American Imports by Adam Hochschild from The American Scholar
10. Refugium by Barbara Hurd from The Georgia Review
11. On Impact by Stephen King from The New Yorker
12. Blue Machinery of Summer by Yusef Komunyakaa from The Washington Post Magazine
13. The Midnight Tour by Marcus Laffey from The New Yorker
14. Facing the Village by Lenore Look from Mānoa
15. Book Marks by Rebecca McClanahan by The Southern Review
16. Trouble in the Tribe by Daphne Merkin from The New Yorker
17. Provincetown by David Michaelis from The American Scholar
18. Brain-Cell Memories by Spencer Nadler from Harper's Magazine
19. Dust by Mary Oliver from Shenandoah
20. Dear Harper: A Letter to a Godchild About God by Reynolds Price from Forbes ASAP
21. The Fineness of Things by Tim Robinson from The Recorder
22. Cut Time by Carlo Rotella from The American Scholar
23. Exquisite Corpse by Ashraf Rushdy from Transition
24. The Last Word by Earl Shorris from Harper's Magazine
25. On Being Breathless by Bert O. States from The Gettysburg Review
26. Upside Down and Backward by William T. Vollmann from Forbes ASAP
July 21, 2017
I could not relate to some female authors' life experiences.
Read
November 12, 2019The Bone Garden of Desire, India’s American Imports, Facing the Village, Book Marks - splendid.
July 6, 2020
Best essays: the bone garden of desire (Charles Bowden), exquisite corpse (ashraf rushdy), the last word (earl shorris), and upside down and backward (William vollman)
August 23, 2020
Diverse collection of essays covering various subjects. Good writing throughout. Favorites by Lenore Look, Ashraf Rushdy, Charles Bowden, Stephen King.
December 30, 2023
Selv om gjesteredaktøren denne gangen hadde en religiøs agenda, så skjemmet det ikke samlingen. Mange svært gode essays!
June 12, 2013
Absolutely beautiful collection of essays curated with excellence and grace by the editor. The pieces flowed perfectly together and weaved together a delicate tapestry of personal histories, collective memories, religion, and science. The last essay on the nature of today's hyperreality and the distraction of mass media would have alone sealed the deal for me My first foray into this genre and I will definitely be back for more.
April 12, 2007
There are two things that changed my mind about creative nonfiction. The first was having Jeremy Huggins for a teacher. the second was reading "Bone Garden of Desire" by Charles Bowden out of this anthology. Amazing.
August 28, 2008
The best American Essays series is a great literary alternative to the Uncle John's Bathroom readers series. Best essays that were published in high brow mags throughout the year. What an inspiring way to start the day.
December 24, 2008
It's a great one. I havent read all. but ive come to the last one..Upside Down and Backward written by William T. Vollmann. I also like On being breathless. The two remind me of death. Which is i rarely do.
You should read it!
You should read it!
July 2, 2013
While there are some outstanding pieces in this collection--especially Bowden's "The Bone Garden of Desire" and States's "On Being Breathless"--it is ultimately an underwhelming year for the Best American Essays.
July 31, 2014
This is yet another BAE that offers a few gems among a majority of one-timers. My faves were Marcus Laffy's "The Midnight Tour" and Rebecca McClanahan's "Book Marks." Charles Bowden, Barbara Hurd, and Spencer Nadler wrote good essays as well.
May 26, 2007
All of the books in these series are excellent, so assigning stars to them seems so pointless.
September 17, 2011
I really enjoy these collections of essays.
A wide variety of topics keeps things interesting, and they're short enough to read one (or a few!) in a sitting.
A wide variety of topics keeps things interesting, and they're short enough to read one (or a few!) in a sitting.
January 24, 2012
Great collection; I liked every essay in this book.
February 20, 2013
What makes this collection stand out is the sheer variety of its contents. While not every essay caught my attention, most were well worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews