{"product_id":"book-fwyu","title":"Abominations","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“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.”—\u003cem\u003eWall Street Journal\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA striking collection of essays from the prize-winning, \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eShould We Stay or Should We Go, So Much for That, \u003c\/em\u003eand \u003cem\u003eThe Post-Birthday World.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eNovelist, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBringing together thirty-five works curated from her many columns, features, essays, and op-eds for the likes of the \u003cem\u003eSpectator\u003c\/em\u003e, the \u003cem\u003eGuardian,\u003c\/em\u003e the \u003cem\u003eNew York Times, Harper’s Magazine,\u003c\/em\u003e the \u003cem\u003eWall Street Journal,\u003c\/em\u003e speeches and reviews, and some unpublished pieces, \u003cem\u003eAbominations \u003c\/em\u003ereveals Shriver at her most iconoclastic and personal.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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 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 \u003cem\u003eAbominations\u003c\/em\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThroughout, 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA timely synthesis of Shriver's expansive work, \u003cem\u003eAbominations\u003c\/em\u003e reveals this provocative, talented writer at her most assured.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49342624235824,"sku":"BDfwyu","price":28.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Audio CD","offer_id":49342624301360,"sku":"ZEfwyu","price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Audio MP3-CD","offer_id":49342624334128,"sku":"ZMfwyu","price":45.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/fwyu-Square-cover.jpg?v=1776503312","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-fwyu","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}