The acclaimed author of How Fiction Works "opens up new dimensions of the novel he's reading in a way that strands other critics in Flatland" ( Chicago Tribune ).

Following The Broken Estate, The Irresponsible Self, and How Fiction Works-books that established James Wood as the leading critic of his generation- The Fun Stuff confirms Wood's preeminence, not only as a discerning judge but also as an appreciator of the contemporary novel.

In twenty-three passionate, sparkling dispatches-that range over such crucial writers as Thomas Hardy, Leon Tolstoy, Edmund Wilson, and Mikhail Lermontov-Wood offers a panoramic look at the modern novel. He effortlessly connects his encyclopedic, passionate understanding of the literary canon with an equally in-depth analysis of the most important authors writing today, including Cormac McCarthy, Lydia Davis, Aleksandar Hemon, and Michel Houellebecq.

Included in The Fun Stuff are the title essay on Keith Moon and the lost joys of drumming-which was a finalist for last year's National Magazine Awards-as well as Wood's essay on George Orwell, which Christopher Hitchens selected for the Best American Essays 2010. The Fun Stuff is indispensable reading for anyone who cares about contemporary literature.

"A captivating collection . . . Wood enlightens and excites, informs and ignites disagreement. He sends readers back to novels with a heightened awareness of what makes fiction live and breathe." - San Francisco Chronicle

"Stirringly intimate . . . The fun of Wood's caliber of criticism is his shared enthusiasm. The thrill of these essays is the joy of vivid, intellectual collaboration." - The Minneapolis Star Tribune