I've enjoyed reading about Hessler's life in Egypt and China over the years in the magazine. I'd love to see more of this type of work from other writers in other places at this level of quality. Although the economics of the modern magazine industry makes that impossible. I'm sure there are writers out there pissed off he and other New Yorker staples like Patricia Marx get so many assignments. For the most part I like all of these regular contributors, though.
Anyway, agree this issue's Hessler article was on the weaker side. Still interesting for the parental dynamics in a Chinese classroom. I've been looking for more great long form Chinese culture content, especially now with Hessler out of the country and the excellent Chaoyong Trahphouse shutting down.
A little insight into Gottlieb’s claim (from his gossipy memoir):
“The way I read was odd too; I more or less devoured books—skimming them rather than bringing them into focus line by line. (One particular attack of showing off, when I was 15 or 16, involved “reading” War and Peace in a single marathon 14-hour session.) This kind of browsing was a habit I had to break when I became an editor…”
Quotation marks around “reading” are his—I think he was being self-deprecating (something he does quite often in the book). :)
I've enjoyed reading about Hessler's life in Egypt and China over the years in the magazine. I'd love to see more of this type of work from other writers in other places at this level of quality. Although the economics of the modern magazine industry makes that impossible. I'm sure there are writers out there pissed off he and other New Yorker staples like Patricia Marx get so many assignments. For the most part I like all of these regular contributors, though.
Anyway, agree this issue's Hessler article was on the weaker side. Still interesting for the parental dynamics in a Chinese classroom. I've been looking for more great long form Chinese culture content, especially now with Hessler out of the country and the excellent Chaoyong Trahphouse shutting down.
A little insight into Gottlieb’s claim (from his gossipy memoir):
“The way I read was odd too; I more or less devoured books—skimming them rather than bringing them into focus line by line. (One particular attack of showing off, when I was 15 or 16, involved “reading” War and Peace in a single marathon 14-hour session.) This kind of browsing was a habit I had to break when I became an editor…”
Quotation marks around “reading” are his—I think he was being self-deprecating (something he does quite often in the book). :)
Excellent reportage!!
Thank you! Appreciate/enjoy your Substack so much every week.