Abominations

Selected Essays from a Career of Courting Self-Destruction

By: Lionel Shriver

Narrated by: Lionel Shriver

“A rare voice, someone who challenges orthodoxies in the way that many journalists and public intellectuals claim to do but don’t. It is bracing to spend time in the company of such a smart, plain-spoken and unpredictable person.”—Wall Street Journal

A striking collection of essays from the prize-winning, New York Times bestselling author of Should We Stay or Should We Go, So Much for That, and The Post-Birthday World.

Novelist, cultural observer, and social satirist Lionel Shriver is among the sharpest talents of our age. A writer who embraces “under-expressed, unpopular or downright dangerous” points of view, she filets cherished shibboleths and the conformity of thought and attitude that has overtaken us.

Bringing together thirty-five works curated from her many columns, features, essays, and op-eds for the likes of the Spectator, the Guardian, the New York Times, Harper’s Magazine, the Wall Street Journal, speeches and reviews, and some unpublished pieces, Abominations reveals Shriver at her most iconoclastic and personal. Relentlessly skeptical, cutting, and contrarian, this collection showcases Shriver’s piquant opinions on a wide range of topics, including religion, politics, illness, mortality, family and friends, tennis, gender, immigration, consumerism, health care, and taxes.

In her characteristically frank manner, Shriver shrewdly skewers the concept of language “crimes,” while chafing at arbitrary limitations on speech and literature that crimp artistic expression and threaten intellectual freedom. Many an essay in Abominations reflects sentiments that have “brought hell and damnation down on my head,” as she cheerfully explains, and have threatened her with “cancellation” more than once.

Throughout, Shriver offers insights on her novels and explores the perks and pitfalls of becoming a successful artist. In revisiting old pieces and rejected essays, Shriver updates and expands her thinking. “Enlightened” progressive readers will find plenty to challenge here. But they may find, to their surprise, insights with which they agree.

A timely synthesis of Shriver's expansive work, Abominations reveals this provocative, talented writer at her most assured.

Fearless thinker

I enjoyed the curated pickings from the mind of of my new favorite author. Her perceptions of the complexity of any issue and her courage to reveal what she believes to be her personal failings is refreshing, interesting, thoughtful and missing from so much current literary dreck On to my fifth read from her repertoire.

Funny, provocative, and unique

This is a wonderful and varied collection of essays. Shriver is engaged with the issues of the day and does not shy from controversy or self-exposure.
Shriver is about a decade older than I, so I appreciated her thoughts on aging and watching your parents grow old and incompetent, as they rang true to my experience and observations. Her political ideas are refreshing, observant and so well-written that I enjoyed them even when I disagreed with her. She is a wonderful stylist even at her most curmudgeonly. I highly recommend the book for anyone who appreciates thoughtful provocative writing. I will undoubtedly listen again and give to friends.

Sorely needed

I love her writing and love listening to her voice reading it. Honest and fresh.

Nonplussed

Outstanding commentary you can hardly find these days delivered with whit and guts! More please.

More, Please!!

I randomly saw Lionel Shriver on something the other day and was impressed with the manner in which she presented herself. I picked up Mania and thoroughly enjoyed it so when I saw this book of her non-fiction, I jumped right on it.

This book was incredible. While I don't agree with all of her opinions, I am able to see how she came to them and appreciate her thought process. She is incredibly logical, quick-witted, and has an extraordinary vocabulary. My only complaint is that the book is too short and there isn't another one for me to jump into.

Please put out another book of your essays and articles!! I would order it right away.