Ross gay the book of delights

He remains dedicated to finding delight even in difficult experiences and discovers things to celebrate during his anxiety and paranoia.

Lastly, in nearly every essay, Gay celebrates the inherent goodness of humanity and finds more proof in the common decency of people. And more than any other subject, Gay celebrates the beauty of the natural world—his garden, the flowers in the sidewalk, the birds, the bees, the mushrooms, the trees.

This is not a book of how-to or inspiration, though it could be read that way.

This is an entire book of such glimmers, in which Ross Gay notices tiny moments in life and nature, so that we too may delight in them."  — Book Riot

"His delights might inspire a To Do List for the Aftertimes, which is a form of hope." — "These 3 books are like a big, deep hug from a friend to help you through tough times,"  San Diego Tribune

"The first thing you should know is that the title is not a misnomer.

A typical entry runs three to four pages, while the briefest are a single paragraph. Intensely personal, wise, witty and sensuous, these glimpses of life through Gay’s perceptive eyes aren’t merely an introduction to his unique world. Some essays deal with this theme directly by studying the definition of joy and the role it plays in relationships.

His eye is so brilliant, it seems to glow from within. In it, Gay describes horrifying radiation experiments conducted in the 1920s in a small southern Indiana town established by free blacks in the 19th century. Many essays focus on single actions from strangers and how they encouraged Gay.

Each essay in the collection identifies and explains at least one thing Gay found delightful.

Other essays demonstrate the topic by honestly recounting heartbreaking stories from friends, observing politics and current events, and exploring the concept of death.

Gay consistently writes about his experience as a Black man in the United States and dedicates many essays to racism, violence against the Black community, and how popular media tries to conflate Blackness and suffering.

He also believes that all people are connected and relishes familial acts of intimacy and trust. But Gay never dismisses the complexities, even the terrors, of living in America as a black man or the ecological and psychic violence of our consumer culture or the loss of those he loves. . . . Fans of Roxane Gay, Maggie Nelson, and Kiese Laymon will revel in Gay’s voice, and his insights.

The Book of Delights is about our shared bonds, and the rewards that come from a life closely observed. The Book of Delights is a unique study of the delights found in everyday life and the implications of living a life dedicated to joy and gratitude.