Episode 26 — David Shields

Summary: David Shields is the guest. He's the author of twelve books, including REALITY HUNGER: A MANIFESTO (Knopf, 2010), which was named one of the best books of the year by more than thirty publications. An interesting conversation with a provocative and intelligent commentator on the state of modern literature. Topics include: J.D. Salinger, Fakes, Matthew Vollmer, the pleasure of concision, Reality Hunger, the symbiotic relationship between teaching and writing, attribution, collage, hip-hop, narrative, Ben Lerner, entertainment, Speedboat, Maggie Nelson, contemporary culture, Jonathan Franzen, northern California, activism, Brown, Black Planet, art, sugar pills, sports, injury, reading, Shakespeare, ambition, and the Rockefeller library.