The Big Empty

Dialogues on Politics, Sex, God, Boxing, Morality, Myth, Poker and Bad Conscience in America

By: Norman Mailer, John Buffalo Mailer

Narrated by: John Buffalo Mailer, Stephen Mailer

"Questions are posed," writes Norman Mailer, "in the hope they will open into richer insights, which in turn will bring forth sharper questions." In this series of conversations, John Buffalo Mailer, 27, poses a series of questions to his father, challenging the reflections and insights of the man who has dominated and defined much of American letters for the past sixty years.

Their wide-ranging discussions take place over the course of a year, beginning in July 2004. Set against the backdrop of George W. Bush's re-election campaign and the war in Iraq, each considers what it means to live in America today. John asks his father to look back to World War II, and explore the parallels that can - and cannot - be drawn between that time and our current post-9/11 consciousness.

As their conversations develop, the topics shift from the political to the personal to the political again, as they duck and weave around one another. They explore their shared admiration of boxing and poker, the nature of marriage and love, television, movies, writing, and what it means to be a part of this extraordinary family.

©2006 Norman Mailer and John Buffalo Mailer. (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Opinions from 20 years ago

It’s interesting to hear opinions and events from 20 years ago. Some opinions aged well while others fall flat. For pugilist fans, the boxing chapter is worth the price of this listen. Poker aficionados will appreciate that chapter.