Joyride

By: Susan Orlean

Narrated by: Susan Orlean

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY NPR, TIME, OPRAH DAILY, KIRKUS REVIEWS, GOODREADS, AND MORE

“Brilliant…A high-spirited, exhilarating memoir.” —The Wall Street Journal • “In Joyride, the takeaway often has as much to do with the art of living as the art of writing.” —Elle • “Wise and exuberant…It’s funny, as well. Just masterful.” —David Sedaris • “Superbly good…Ebullient, frank, moving, and inspiring.” —Booklist (starred review)

From Susan Orlean, the beloved New Yorker writer and bestselling author of The Orchid Thief and The Library Book who has been hailed as “a national treasure” by The Washington Post, comes a masterful memoir of finding her creative calling and purpose that invites us to approach life with wonder, curiosity, and an irrepressible sense of delight.

“The story of my life is the story of my stories,” writes Susan Orlean in this extraordinary, era-defining memoir from one of the greatest practitioners of narrative nonfiction of our time. Joyride is a magic carpet ride through Orlean’s life and career, where every day is an opportunity for discovery and every moment holds the potential for wonder. Throughout her storied career, her curiosity draws her to explore the most ordinary and extraordinary of places, from going deep inside the head of a regular ten-year-old boy for a legendary profile (“The American Man Age Ten”) to reporting on a woman who owns twenty-seven tigers, from capturing the routine magic of Saturday night to climbing Mt. Fuji.

Not only does Orlean’s account of a writing life offer a trove of indispensable gleanings for writers, it’s also an essential and practical guide to embracing any creative path. She takes us through her process of dreaming up ideas, managing deadlines, connecting with sources, chasing every possible lead, confronting writer’s block and self-doubt, and crafting the perfect lede—a Susan specialty.

While Orlean has always written her way into other people’s lives in order to understand the human experience, Joyride is her most personal book ever—a searching journey through finding her feet as a journalist, recovering from the excruciating collapse of her first marriage, falling head-over-heels in love again, becoming a mother while mourning the decline of her own mother, sojourning to Hollywood for films based on her work including Adaptation and Blue Crush, and confronting mortality. Joyride is also a time machine to a bygone era of journalism, from Orlean’s bright start in the golden age of alt-weeklies to her career-making days working alongside icons such as Robert Gottlieb, Tina Brown, David Remnick, Anna Wintour, Sonny Mehta, and Jonathan Karp—forces who shaped the media industry as we know it today.

Infused with Orlean’s signature warmth and wit, Joyride is a must-read for anyone who hungers to start, build, and sustain a creative life. Orlean inspires us to seek out daily inspiration and rediscover the marvels that surround us.

Loved the bonus

I love that the audio included a number of the essays referred to in the book. It reminds us that Orlean was masterful right from the start.

Great memoire, especially for writers

Excellent ideas for non-fiction writing, and description of the difficult writing process. I appreciated Orleans commitment to her writing, her desire to learn, and her respect for the people she profiled.

Joyride: delightful!

Orlean’ s lens is keen, honed, and insightful. I chuckled, pondered, and felt deep sorrow as I read her memoir. She is an exceptional author. Let’s hope SusanJ Orlean’s library does not burn for many more years to come.

Mesmerizing

What a lovely read into the life and love of Susan Orleans writing and personnel journey. Could not put the book down. Felt like I was taken along on her life of adventure and enjoyed every minute. Highly recommend her eloquent and beautiful story .

My favorite audible book in years

My favorite Audible book in years, and I don't even know what it's about (I should say I do know, but it’s not one to summarize). How is it possible to simultaneously write about so much and so little? The language, the tone, the wry humor... I don't want it to end. Thank you, Susan Orlean.

Didn’t want it to end,,, I could listen forever to her narratives

Oh how I loved this book! It brought back to life all of the Susan Orlean books and essays that I have read,,,, all of them! I usually dont like it when authors read their work, but when SO reads her story, it just fits. Her voice brings her written work alive. I savored each and every chapter, and felt very privileged to listen to some very personal episodes in her varied and interesting life. Wow, can she write! Her turn of phrase and capture of description thrills me as a reader/ listener. She is the leader of the pack when it comes to my favorite authors. Susan Orlean never ever disappoints the reader/listner as she unfolds worlds that I may have never ventured into. This book encapsulates her vast history of research and writing. The ‘behind’ stories have enriched the stories I read and loved and now love even more. I am a very grateful reader/listener to all things Susan Orlean. As an aside, her witty instagram posts are also a great ‘joyride’. Thank you Susan Orlean.

Gifted Writer Spells It Out

I like literary journalism; I enjoy biography;I adore red heads. Joyride is the trifecta.

Susan Orlean, outstanding writer and noted ginger, presents a fascinating blend of autobiography and road map of how she researched and constructed masterpieces such as The American Man Age 10, Saturday Night, The Orchid Theif, and The Library Book. in less skilled hands, this book would be a dry, didactic account of how to turn a nice girl from Shaker Heights into an acclaimed solo world-traveling, swamp-slogging, chicken-hugging, index card-arrainging Angelino journalist.

Orlean recorded the audiobook, adding more hilarity to the infamous Drunken Twitter Night and poignantcy to taking her mother into assisted living.

I enjoyed the book and highly recommend the ride. seatbelts not required.

Disclosure; I know (and love) several of the people included in Joyride. Their portrayals are pretty darned accurate.

👍🏼

I enjoyed everything about this memoir - the writing, pov, performance, additional texts, and music. Couldn’t stop listening!

A joy ride I wished wouldn't end

This memior is a journey that I never wanted to end. I especially loved Susan Orlean's narration.