The Thing Itself - by Richard Todd (Paperback)

About the Book

Engaging and readable, this deeply personal literary memoir explores what it means to live an authentic life in an increasingly detached and self-conscious world.

Book Synopsis

The celebrated literary memoir and chronicle of one man's search for the elusive gift of authenticity.

Troubled by the lack of substance in contemporary life, Richard Todd suspects that much of what we experience is false. In this unique pursuit of the "genuine," Todd examines his search for authenticity in places and objects, in politics and ideas, and in ourselves, and recounts his efforts to understand the desire to be a real person in a real world.

Review Quotes

"There is a sweet memoir embedded in this book of cultural criticism, into which Mr. Todd has deftly wrangled the whole gang, from Jean Baudrillard to Lionel Trilling."
-"The New York Times"
"An arch and eloquent meditation."
-"O, " the Oprah magazine
"Dazzling, beautifully crafted...A small masterpiece- and 'small' only because of its brevity, not its scope."
-"Chicago Tribune"
"Provocative and oddly comforting...Refreshing."
-"The Arizona Republic"
"A fully realized, brave, and movingly honest memoir...[Todd] makes a figure in which to contemplate ourselves."
-"Ploughshares"
"A splendid book, brimming with wit and original insights...Most pertinent to the way we live now."
-Ward Just, author of "Forgetfulness"


aThere is a sweet memoir embedded in this book of cultural criticism, into which Mr. Todd has deftly wrangled the whole gang, from Jean Baudrillard to Lionel Trilling.a
a"The New York Times"
aAn arch and eloquent meditation.a
a"O," the Oprah magazine
aDazzling, beautifully crafted...A small masterpiecea and asmalla only because of its brevity, not its scope.a
a"Chicago Tribune"
aProvocative and oddly comfortinga]Refreshing.a
a"The Arizona Republic"
aA fully realized, brave, and movingly honest memoira][Todd] makes a figure in which to contemplate ourselves.a
a"Ploughshares"
aA splendid book, brimming with wit and original insightsa]Most pertinent to the way we live now.a
aWard Just, author of "Forgetfulness"

About the Author

Richard Todd has spent many years as a magazine and book editor at The Atlantic, New England Monthly, and Houghton Mifflin. His essays and cultural reportage have appeared in The Atlantic, Harper's, The New York Times, Worth, and numerous other magazines. A member of the MFA faculty at Goucher College, he lives in Western Massachusetts.