For New York Times Bestselling author David Rakoff the glass is half empty — but always funny. In his new book, HALF EMPTY, the inimitably witty Rakoff defends the commonsensical notion that you should always assume the worst, because you’ll never be disappointed. Through stories both reportorial and personal Rakoff follows several of the paths we are told will lead to bliss only to discover that his real subject is the variety of human disappointment. While making good sport out of cultural phenomena like the tortured Jewish love affair with pork or the positive psychology movement, Rakoff has more on his mind than satirizing the mindless optimism of our benighted age. He has crafted a manifesto of sorts, one that praises all the scorned emotions—dread, anxiety, misgiving, to name a few—that offer different, more fruitful forms of human satisfaction.
By turns funny, serious, and seriously funny, Rakoff’s signature combination of deadly wit and human sympathy will have you positively reveling in the power of negativity.
Warning: No inspirational life lessons will be found on these pages!
Buy Half Empty
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I heard your interview with Terri Gross today. I have followed you on this American Life. I LOVE your stories and your voice. Don’t worry about asymmetry. I’m sure you will come up with some new stories about the unique advantages of having one limb and a missing shoulder. I am so happy you are still with us. XXOO Rae
will check out the book, it seems right up my alley for entertainment … and this is one of the most asinine q’s one could ever ask… anytime i’m asked that q to determine if i’m an ‘optimist’ — i always respond — “did you drink the first half? or did i? was it handed to me this way? are you sharing? repaying a debt? did i choose to pour only half a glass? was that all i had at the time? or was i choosing to save the rest for later?”
I heard your interview while listening to the radio and driving to work the other morning. I almost pulled my car over to the side of the road to listen to the delicious sound of your voice as well as your exquisite choices in words. I plan on buying Half Empty this weekend. The notion of working through anxiety and negativity as a way of finding moments of truth and survival is extremely smart and grounded. Please keep on writing; you make people feel “half full!”