What It Means to Be Avant-Garde

As a student of Professor Antin's at the University of California- San Diego, it was not surprising to me when I found his book just as uniquely interesting and enthralling as his classroom lectures. His collection of stories in this book examines the human condition in a way that is humorous, and richly written, even without the use of punctuation.

It's a real shame that New Directions press doesn't aggressively market books like "What It Means to Be Avant-Garde". David Antin is one of the most entertaining serious writers working in the English language. His insight into the human condition and the stories he spins in this book are refreshing and hilarious. If Antin relied upon traditional rules of punctuation -- it's somehow liberating that he doesn't -- and had a publisher interested in making a few bucks this book would sell well...very well. Treat yourself and give it a try!

It's too bad that this book didn't get more press when it was first published. It's a remarkable collection of witty and probing stories about the human condition. Once you get used to the style (punctuation-free that is), it's one of the fastest reads you'll ever encounter