Cindy Chupack
Cindy Chupack, an Emmy-winning writer and executive producer for HBO’s Sex and the City, is the author of The Between Boyfriends Book: A Collection of Cautiously Hopeful Essays.
Barrel Fever and Other Stories by David Sedaris (Back Bay Books, $13). Hands down one of the funniest essay and short-story collections ever written. My favorites are “SantaLand Diaries”—Sedaris’ strange-but-true experiences as an elf at Macy’s—and “Seasons Greetings to Our Friends and Family!”—an upbeat Christmas letter from a woman clearly in crisis.
On Writing by Stephen King (Pocket Books, $8). This great memoir is a very useful tool for anyone who writes or has aspirations to do so. King gives many helpful tips and tells an inspiring personal tale that will make you want to write more, read more, and love more.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
How to Be Hap-Hap-Happy Like Me by Merrill Markoe (out of print). I became a fan of Markoe’s magazine essays when I was just out of journalism school and living in New York. She approaches writing as a social anthropologist, hap-hap-happy to throw herself into ridiculous situations for the sake of the story.
Fraud by David Rakoff (Broadway, $13). Another must-read, by David Sedaris’ friend and sometime collaborator. Once you read the first piece, “In New England, Everybody Calls You Dave,” you’ll be hooked.
About a Boy, High Fidelity, and How to Be Good by Nick Hornby (Riverhead, $13 each). Nobody captures today’s single man as honestly, sympathetically, and humorously as Hornby in High Fidelity and About a Boy. And How to Be Good is a hilarious portrait of a troubled marriage.
Monkey Dancing
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Newsweek
-
Why more and more adults are reaching for soft toys
Under The Radar Does the popularity of the Squishmallow show Gen Z are 'scared to grow up'?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Magazine solutions - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
Alan Cumming's 6 favorite works with resilient characters
Feature The award-winning stage and screen actor recommends works by Douglas Stuart, Alasdair Gray, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Shahnaz Habib's 6 favorite books that explore different cultures
Feature The essayist and translator recommends works by Vivek Shanbhag, Adania Shibli, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Niall Williams' 6 favorite books with rich storytelling
Feature The best-selling author recommends works by Charles Dickens, James McBride, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Nigel Hamilton's 6 inspirational books for fellow writers
Feature The award-winning author recommends works by John Banville, Ann Patchett, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Ed Park's 6 favorite works about self reflection and human connection
Feature The Pulitzer Prize finalist recommends works by Jason Rekulak, Gillian Linden, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Kate Summerscale's 6 favorite true crime books about real murder cases
Feature The best-selling author recommends works by Helen Garner, Gwen Adshead, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Bonnie Jo Campbell's 6 favorite books about unconventional relationships
Feature The former National Book Award finalist recommends works by Tove Jansson, Virginia Woolf, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Peter Ames Carlin's 6 favorite books on pop culture icons
Feature The author recommends works by James McBride, Jim Bouton, and more
By The Week US Published