{"product_id":"disparates-2","title":"Disparates","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e15 Bytes Book Award\u003cbr\u003e 2021 Independent Publisher Book Awards, Gold Medal Winner\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In English \u003ci\u003edisparate\u003c\/i\u003e means “different” or “miscellaneous”—apt descriptors of these essays by Patrick Madden. In Spanish, however, \u003ci\u003edisparate\u003c\/i\u003e means “nonsense,” “folly,” or “absurdity,”—words appropriate to Madden’s goal of undercutting any notion that essays must be serious business. Thus, in this collection, the essays are frivolous and lively, aiming to make readers laugh while they think about such abstract subjects as happiness and memory and unpredictability.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In this vein, Madden takes sidelong swipes at weighty topics via form, with wildly meandering essays, abandoned essays in honor of the long tradition of essayists disparaging their own efforts, and guerrilla essays—which slip in quietly under the guise of a borrowed form, abruptly attack, and promptly escape, leaving laughter and contemplation in their wake. Madden also incorporates cameos from guest essayists, including Mary Cappello, Matthew Gavin Frank, David Lazar, Michael Martone, Jericho Parms, and Wendy S. Walters, much like a musician features other performers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eDisparates\u003c\/i\u003e reflects the current zeitgeist by taking on important issues with a touch of cleverness, a dash of humor, and a little help from one’s friends.\u003c\/div\u003e   \u003cdiv\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/nebraska-press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/20143304\/Madden-Ch1.pdf\" target=\"blank\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eRead Chapter 1.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Patrick Madden","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43573331984566,"sku":"9781496221889","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0251\/4980\/0541\/files\/9781496221889_195b5bb7-8901-4346-98d1-d315bcbe1a3a.jpg?v=1726582304","url":"https:\/\/combined-academic.myshopify.com\/products\/disparates-2","provider":"Combined Academic Publishers - Mare Nostrum Group","version":"1.0","type":"link"}