Inside Writers Mind Journalism

This collection of 30 stories is a prequel to Bloom's nonfiction books. Inside the Writer's Mind takes us inside Bloom's head; it affords readers the opportunity to learn how a sophisticated writer carefully chooses ideas for his stories, how he researches them, and finally, the decisions he makes in writing them. It also updates readers with an aftermath for each story. There are some wonderful stories in this powerful, eclectic medley, including two hysterical pieces on flatulence (Bloom talks to the world's foremost medical expert!) and another "medical" story on the author's wild adventures after pulling a muscle in his lower back. There's also a terrifically reported story about a Texas husband and wife who agree to a suicide pact. Then there's the chilling account of a Los Angeles man who methodically plans the murder of his wife and kills her -- with a glitch: the couple's three-year-old daughter witnessed the murder (the killer still gets off!). There's also the sweet story about a band of diehard Little League umpires, and a hysterical story about people who change their names (Ellen Cooperman becomes Ellen Cooperperson; go figure). I loved the memory piece about Bloom's working in his father's New Jersey shoe store as a teenager. Read this amazing collection to get an insight on Bloom's early years as a newspaper reporter and magazine writer, before he went big time.

An exceptionally enjoyable read. I am not a writer of any kind, but the essays and stories contained within this book are highly entertaining and literate. I am aware that this book is used as a textbook; but I believe the book stands well on its own as recreational reading. The author and I share some obscure history, so at least one of the stories had a particular personal appeal to me. One of the stories within the book, a narrative of the author's father's shoe retailing business is quite as compelling as Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman."