Secrets of the Universe: Essays on Family, Community, Spirit, and Place [Paperback]

Scott Russell Sanders (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 1992 | ISBN-10: 0807063312 | ISBN-13: 978-0807063316

Ranging from an autobiographical tour-de-force that describes a childhood spent with an alcoholic father to "Looking at Women," a reflection on male yearning and confusion, to a look at the place—or absence—of nature in recent American fiction.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Sanders extends his personal horizons from recollections of his own midwestern childhood to encompass neighborhood, region and nature itsell An engaging sampling of intellect enlivened by imagination.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This collection of essays from a frequent contributor to Harper's , the New York Times , and the Georgia Review is wonderfully varied. Personal, thought-provoking, honest, and well written, the essays evoke vivid images, as in passages from the first essay on growing up with an alcoholic father in 1940s Ohio and Tennessee. Recognizing now, as the father of a ten-year-old son, the guilt and responsibility he felt over his father's drinking, he writes "to drag into the light what eats at me--the fear, the guilt, the shame, so that my own children may be spared." Although the first essay ("Under the Influence") is most poignant, the other essays live up to a high standard of writing, conveying Sanders's sense of social responsibility and concern for the quality of life in today's world. Recommended.
- Lynn Randall, Caldwell Coll. Lib., N.J.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Beacon Press (October 31, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807063312
• ISBN-13: 978-0807063316
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #614,532 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A pleasure for any serious reader, January 8, 2002

By 

Heather F. Grimes (Appalachia, KY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secrets of the Universe: Scenes from the Journey Home (Hardcover)

I admit that this book was assigned to me in a college writing class. However, once I drunk in the words of these essays, I was challenged by Sanders to create essays of my own. The essays move outward, moving from himself and the family that is part of his life to the world that is a part of. Not only does it challenge any writer to reach the honesty that Sanders does, but this book also draws the every day Jane or Jon Doe to think about their own life and to be honest about it. A definate keeper!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful writing!, October 31, 2009

By 

D. C. Lawson "FlowerChild~FreeBird" (washington) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Secrets of the Universe: Essays on Family, Community, Spirit, and Place (Paperback)

Scott Russell Sanders is a genius when it comes to writing!
i had to buy this book for an Eng 101 class and it's a great choice for teachers and for leisure reading.

he writes short stories from his life. the eloquence that he writes with captures and holds you! if your buying it for a class like i did or to learn to enhance your own writing style, this will be great great inspiration!