Description

As featured on NPR’s *This American Life*, *The Book of Delights* is a *New York Times* bestseller that highlights the simple joys woven into everyday life. Written by award-winning poet Ross Gay, author of *Inciting Joy*, this collection of lyrical essays celebrates the beauty found in ordinary moments. Pre-order *The Book of (More) Delights* now.

“Ross Gay’s eye lands upon wonder at every turn, bolstering my belief in the countless small miracles that surround us.” —Tracy K. Smith, Pulitzer Prize winner and U.S. Poet Laureate

Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry, Ross Gay presents a vibrant collection of brief essays, each penned daily over the course of a year. In these pages, he reminds us of the value and joy in recognizing life’s small wonders.

In *The Book of Delights*, one of today’s most distinctive literary voices brings us a unique blend of observation and reflection, inspired by his experiences over a transformative year. This is Gay’s first nonfiction book, offering a thoughtful record of the fleeting yet profound pleasures we often overlook. His delights range from the humorous to the deeply philosophical—a friend’s enthusiastic use of air quotes, the tenderness of carrying a tomato seedling on a plane, the silent but knowing nod exchanged between the only two Black people in a room. Still, Gay does not shy away from life’s contradictions. He acknowledges the challenges of being a Black man in America, the environmental and psychological toll of consumer culture, and the grief of losing loved ones.

Yet at its heart, *The Book of Delights* is a celebration of the natural world—his garden, flowers pushing through sidewalk cracks, the mesmerizing movements of a praying mantis. This collection speaks to the deep connections we share and the fulfillment that comes from paying close attention to life’s details. Through these remarkable essays, Gay offers a powerful reminder that we can and should make space for delight in our daily lives.