Intriguing piece of literary criticism, also fun to read. Shields not only explores the future of literature, he convincingly argues that fiction , specifically the novel, no longer adequately expresses what it means to be alive in today’s world. Instead he urges writers to ignore the (alleged) boundaries between fiction and nonfiction in favor of a new genre that draws equal inspiration from memoir, reality TV, hiphop, and standup comedy (among others).

Recommended by Zak