- 344 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
The Encyclopedia of Trouble and Spaciousness
About this book
The incomparable Rebecca Solnit, author of more than a dozen acclaimed, prizewinning books of nonfiction, brings the same dazzling writing to the essays in Encyclopedia of Trouble and Spaciousness. As the title suggests, the territory of Solnit’s concerns is vast, and in her signature alchemical style she combines commentary on history, justice, war and peace, and explorations of place, art, and community, all while writing with the lyricism of a poet to achieve incandescence and wisdom.Gathered here are celebrated iconic essays along with little-known pieces that create a powerful survey of the world we live in, from the jungles of the Zapatistas in Mexico to the splendors of the Arctic. This rich collection tours places as diverse as Haiti and Iceland; movements like Occupy Wall Street and the Arab Spring; an original take on the question of who did Henry David Thoreau’s laundry; and a searching look at what the hatred of country music really means.Solnit moves nimbly from Orwell to Elvis, to contemporary urban gardening to 1970s California macramé and punk rock, and on to searing questions about the environment, freedom, family, class, work, and friendship. It’s no wonder she’s been compared in Bookforum to Susan Sontag and Annie Dillard and in the San Francisco Chronicle to Joan Didion. The Encyclopedia of Trouble and Spaciousness proves Rebecca Solnit worthy of the accolades and honors she’s received. Rarely can a reader find such penetrating critiques of our time and its failures leavened with such generous heapings of hope. Solnit looks back to history and the progress of political movements to find an antidote to despair in what many feel as lost causes. In its encyclopedic reach and its generous compassion, Solnit’s collection charts a way through the thickets of our complex social and political worlds. Her essays are a beacon for readers looking for alternative ideas in these imperiled times.
Frequently asked questions
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.4M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- Introduction: Icebergs and Laundry
- A. Cyclopedia of an Arctic Expedition
- B. The Butterfly and the Boiling Point: Reflections on the Arab Spring and After
- C. Rattlesnake in Mailbox: Cults, Creeps, California in the 1970s
- D. Detroit Arcadia: Exploring the Post-American Landscape
- E. One Nation under Elvis: Environmentalism for Everyone
- G. Winged Mercury and the Golden Calf: Heavy Metal Histories
- H. In Haiti, Words Can Kill
- I. Inside Out, or Interior Space: (and Interior Decoration)
- J. The Great Tōhoku Earthquake and Tsunami: Aftermaths in Japan
- L. Letter to a Dead Man on the Occupation of Hope
- M. Apologies to Mexico: The Drug Trade and GNP (Gross National Pain)
- N. Reconstructing the Story of the Storm: New Orleans Five Years After
- S. The Google Bus: Silicon Valley Invades
- T. On the Dirtiness of Laundry and the Strength of Sisters: Or, Mysteries of Henry David Thoreau, Unsolved
- U. Revolutionary Plots: On Urban Gardening
- V. The Visibility Wars
- Z. Revolution of the Snails: Encounters with the Zapatistas
- Acknowledgments
- Index
- About the Author