very simple

I always enjoy a collection of essays, because I can sit and read one in one stretch, which certainly contributes to my enjoyment of the individual stories.

Rakoff first captured me with Fraud, his completely self-obsessive book. He’s very funny. This time he looks outward, but only so far – to "investigate" such problems of privilege as having to attend a whole bunch of couture fashion shows in Paris, gaining his American citizenship, quizzing a bunch of Beverly Hills plastic surgeons, working temporarily for Martha Stewart and the ultimate ego trip, cryogenically freezing your brain for the benefit of future generations. Among other topics. Rakoff is one of those writers who gets featured from time to time by Ira Glass on This American Life, along with Sarah Vowell, David Sedaris, and the rest of that crowd. They’re all very funny, in a "new york by way of somewhere else" sort of way. Anyway, I highly recommend his humor.