Jenny Diski

Jenny Diski is the author of all of the essays contained within the book. These essays are written over multiple decades. Their intent is not to provide autobiography, but the reader is given enough of her opinions in order to be able to understand certain character traits of Diski. First, she was introspective. She spent much time considering the books she read, and instead of just reviewing them through summary, she includes her own social observations in them including her ideas about aging, sexuality, power, and politics.

Diski is a member of the Baby Boomer generation. She identifies with that group, and she personified the optimistic nature of that generation during its youth. She, along with others of her time, believed that they would be able to change the world with their sincerity and desire. By the time she is writing in her sixties, she has...