The Believer September 2008

FULL TEXT The Henry Ford of Literature by Rolf Potts How one of the most prolific publishers in U.S. history ended up floating dead in his swimming pool—possibly murdered by the FBI. The Guilty I by Ander Monson Questioning the singular authority of the first person, from grouchy, nervous jurors at a trial to grouchy, nervous MFA students in the Midwest. Buzzkill by Paul Collins They are engineers, retired teachers, and temporary Mark Twain impersonators. They are today’s spelling activists, and they will be heard. Julia Slavin in correspondence with Richard McCann Two writers send actual letters through the mail, discussing flea markets, liver transplants, cosmetic concealer, literature, and encephalopathy. Richard Dawkins interviewed by Troy Jollimore Two years after The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins is still the emblem of popular science’s integrity, appeal, and controversy. FULL TEXT Tim and Eric interviewed by Mike Sacks and Eric Spitznagel How public-access and David Letterman informed the weirdest show ever aired.

Sedaratives by Bob Odenkirk Stuff I’ve Been Reading by Nick Hornby Real Life Rock Top Ten by Greil Marcus Where’s Nancy?: Twenty-Four “I Wonder”s by Franklin Bruno A new book collects Joe Brainard’s series of paintings subjecting Nancy, the Mona Lisa of postward funnies, to a wide range of abuses. FULL TEXT Raymond McDaniel’s Saltwater Empire reviewed by Stephen Burt Rebecca Miller’s The Private Lives of Pippa Lee reviewed by Jay Baron Nicorvo Jack Pendarvis’s Awesome reviewed by Andrew Ervin FULL TEXT Emily Perkins’s Novel About My Wife reviewed by Suzanne Kleid Rachel Zucker’s The Bad Wife Handbook reviewed by Craig Morgan Teicher Laura Walker’s Rimertown/An Atlas reviewed by Thomas Hummel Schema: Little Blue Books by Chris Ying