A little boring and out of date. He is indeed a great writer and a passionate man. However, when it comes to his work, I just can't seem to immerse myself in its history the way I do with Hunter S. Thompson. I own one of his novels that I am somewhat interested in reading. But as for this particular book, I believe it will only hold interest as a supplement to his more extensive body of work. It may provide additional context or details that could enhance the overall understanding of his larger works. Nevertheless, on its own, it may not have the same allure and engaging quality that some of his other writings possess.

In full disclosure, I only read this book because I am attempting to complete the Barthelme Syllabus.

To be honest, I have a rather negative view of Norman Mailer. I believe he represents the worst type of entitled white male author. He is racist and extremely misogynist. His work often displays a combination of self-aggrandizement and self-deprecation. There are even parts of his work that he himself admits are nonsense.

However, it must be acknowledged that he is not completely without talent. But despite this, I would be perfectly content if I never had to read his work again.

I find his attitudes and the content of his writing to be quite off-putting. It makes the reading experience rather unpleasant for me. I much prefer authors who approach their work with more respect and a more positive attitude towards different genders and races.

Overall, while Mailer may have some literary skills, his negative qualities overshadow any potential enjoyment I could have gained from reading his book.

A real mixed bag, but a worthwhile one indeed.

It builds up gradually, with each part contributing to the overall tapestry. As it progresses, it leads to some truly extraordinary fragments at the end.

He boldly announces the scale of his ambitions, leaving no room for doubt about his grand vision. And then, in a remarkable display, he successfully demonstrates that he has what it takes within him to meet those lofty ambitions.

This marks the beginning of a Mailer journey for me, and I have to say that I'm thoroughly impressed so far.

The way he weaves together different elements and ideas, and the confidence with which he presents his work, make it a captivating and engaging experience.

I'm eager to see where this journey takes me and what other surprises and delights Mailer has in store.

Overall, it's been a promising start, and I look forward to delving deeper into his body of work.

In 1959, a significant year in history, many events took place that would shape the world as we know it today.

It was a time of great change and progress in various fields.

Technological advancements were being made at an astonishing pace, with new inventions and discoveries revolutionizing the way people lived and worked.

In the political arena, there were major developments and power shifts that had far-reaching consequences.

Social movements were also emerging, advocating for equality, justice, and human rights.

1959 was a year of excitement, anticipation, and uncertainty, as the world looked towards the future with hope and a sense of possibility.

It was a year that would be remembered for a long time to come, as it marked a turning point in the history of mankind.

I did not read the entire book.

It is a compilation consisting of his essays and short stories.

Interestingly, in the preface, he indicates the best ones to read.

However, some of the stories appear to be extremely dated.

This is because they were predominantly written in the 1950s.

Moreover, his views come across as those of a racist and homophobe.

This aspect really detracts from the overall value of the book.

One wonders if the author's biases influenced the content and message of his works.

Despite this, there may still be some merit in certain of the essays and stories.

Perhaps they offer insights into the social and cultural context of the time.

Nonetheless, it is important to approach the book with a critical eye and be aware of the author's potentially offensive views.

Overall, it is a complex and somewhat controversial collection that requires careful consideration.

The content in this is truly remarkable.

Particularly, his voice columns are outstanding. They possess a certain charm and allure that draw the listeners in.

However, on the other hand, there is also some of the worst stuff which can be rather tedious. It lacks the excitement and engagement that the other parts have.

Perhaps this is just a small drawback in an otherwise great collection.

Overall, despite the presence of the tedious elements, the best stuff still manages to shine through and make it a worthwhile experience.

One can't help but appreciate the efforts put into creating this, even with its few imperfections.

It has the potential to be even better if the areas of tedium can be addressed and improved upon.

Nevertheless, for now, it remains a work that has both its strengths and weaknesses.

A guilty pleasure.

To me, it's sort of like going to the supermarket and leisurely browsing through US magazines.

The blatant egotism and narcissism on display, for some strange reason, seem not only fun but also sort of charming.

As he grapples with the language, we gain a real sense of his personality.

Here is another human being, struggling hard to create art, even though it clearly doesn't come easily or naturally to him.

The fact that he manages to succeed all the same is truly inspiring.

It makes us believe that even when faced with difficulties and challenges in our own pursuits, we too can overcome and achieve something remarkable.

His journey serves as a reminder that perseverance and a passion for one's craft can lead to great things, regardless of the initial obstacles.

It's a story that encourages us to keep pushing forward and not give up on our dreams.

The moment I read it, it left a profound impression on me.

Rather than simply regarding Mailer as a writer, I was more intrigued by him as a personality.

His unique charm and complex character seemed to leap off the pages, captivating my attention.

Perhaps it was his boldness, his willingness to take risks and explore the boundaries of literature and life.

Or maybe it was the way he presented himself, with a certain swagger and confidence that was both appealing and intimidating.

Whatever the reason, I found myself drawn to Mailer in a way that I had not been to other writers.

I wanted to know more about him, to understand the man behind the words.

And so, my interest in Mailer as a personality grew, leading me to explore his works and life in greater depth.

Enjoyable in parts, skippable in others. This work serves as an introduction to him, but I think it could be improved. His essays from the next decade are superior to the ones presented here. The stories range from good to okay, with a couple of duds thrown in for good measure. Things like the comparison of two versions of The Deer Park are great for diehard fans or scholars, but for casual reading, it can be a bit overwhelming. If you absolutely must read this, Mailer has provided a helpful note at the beginning indicating what he likes best. And when it's at its best, it's actually quite decent. However, overall, I can't really recommend it.

When I think of Norman Mailer, I envision a figure similar to the one William Vollmann appears to embody in more contemporary times.

Both men have distinct interests in sexuality. For Mailer, there is an obsession with anal sex, while Vollmann has a predilection for prostitutes. They also share a penchant for large working projects. Mailer attempted to write many Great American Novels and novel cycles, some of which he finished partially or never even started. Vollmann, on the other hand, has an ongoing cycle of novels about interactions between Native Americans and mostly white settlers.

Most importantly, both strive to be as open as possible to the reader. Vollmann, for example, in a book like /Riding Toward Everywhere/, comes across as both completely honest and yet quite childish for being so. His fears of the NSA and TSA have some foundation, but the grandiosity with which he writes about living in a rogue state can seem overly alarmist or even a bit crazy. Mailer, too, adheres to the philosophy of being able to write about anything as long as he does so with complete honesty and Truth.

In the end, both men can be boiled down to a continuing search for an almost Platonic form of Truth. At least in my opinion, Mailer is at his greatest as a writer when he is竭尽全力 to express that capital-T Truth which is relative to him. In an essay like "The Homosexual Villain" in /Advertisements for Myself/, Mailer attempts to come to terms with his theoretical acceptance of homosexuality and the resulting contradiction when he meets someone gay.

Mailer is undoubtedly all the things his critics complain about: racist, homophobic, self-loathing, and sexist. However, his desire to express himself truthfully and honestly trumps all of these flaws. In the essays collected in this book, Mailer is at his best. The fiction, though, is more complicated. It can be good in one part and horrendously bad in another, resulting in a more uneven work. This may be because, given the nature of a compilation volume, we don't have enough time to become invested in each piece of fiction before moving on to the next.

Above all, for his honesty and the bravery within that honesty, this book is recommended.

Like many another vain, empty, and bullying body of our time, I have been running for President these last ten years in the privacy of my mind.

And it occurs to me that I am less close now than when I began.

No one loves Norman Mailer’s writing more than Norman Mailer himself.

No one hates Norman Mailer’s writing more than Norman Mailer either.

This book is a sort of collected work from Norman Mailer, but it really only covers about a decade or so of his publishing career.

If that seems arrogant, well, it is, and I think Norman Mailer would probably agree with you.

But at the same time, as Mailer mentions early on, if he models himself a little after Ernest Hemingway in terms of self-promotion, then this makes a lot of sense.

According to Mailer, Hemingway spent his early career developing and buttressing the public reputation of Hemingway.

So Hemingway could make it to 1959 (when this book came out) with that reputation intact, and with the world all agreeing how good The Old Man and the Sea is.

For Mailer, that novel is only good if you know a lot about Hemingway and imagine him as both the writer and the lead character.

So Mailer forges on here.

This book ostensibly contains his collected works, with a healthy dose of juvenilia in the front section.

This includes several short stories that Mailer wrote as an undergrad and before he was famous, and before he went to the army.

The later sections include some political essays written from commissions, some additional short stories, cultural essays, and various drafts and abandoned drafts from his second and third novels.

What makes this collection interesting at all is that Mailer, in the vein of Hemingway, has written self-aggrandizing essays to sell himself and the various pieces to his audience to support each of the sections and pieces.

And I will tell you, I am very bearish on Mailer’s fiction, and quite bullish on his nonfiction, and almost ecstatic about his personal writing.

So for me, this often works.

I don't even know what to say about this. Mailer is such a scumbag, but that's the point!

"The White Negro" is just completely insane! It's a work that challenges and shocks, perhaps deliberately so. Mailer seems to be pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable, provoking strong reactions.

I hated all the fiction. Maybe it's because it didn't conform to my expectations or because it delved into such uncomfortable and controversial territory. But perhaps that's the mark of a truly great writer, someone who can make us feel something, even if it's hatred or discomfort.

Mailer's work forces us to confront our own prejudices and assumptions, to question the status quo. Whether we like it or not, he has made an impact on the literary world and continues to be a subject of debate and discussion.