Trillin has long been more in demand as a eulogist, in Manhattan’s interlocking journalism and literary worlds, than probably anyone alive. He has a) a fundamental decency, b) a phlegmatic manner and c) a deadpan wit that delivers, like an inoculation, hurt and healing at the same time. nonfan might attend a Knicks game solely because he’d heard that Chaka Khan would be singing the national anthem. But it makes sense to have this material in one place, and this book is buoyant and crunchy from end to end. Trillin can be counted on to hand the world back clearer than it was before he picked it up.

---

Persons: Calvin Trillin, Ottessa Moshfegh, ”, Trillin, they’ve, nonfan, he’d, Chaka Khan, Edna Buchanan, Johnny Apple, Joe Bob Briggs — Organizations: Press, Knicks, The, Yorker, Miami, New York Times Locations: Texas