“The Flood doesn’t come as a punishment, or a warning, or even as a lesson, but instead it seems to come because floods will sometimes come - leaving us with nothing but the opportunity to rebuild.” - John D’Agata, The Making of the American Essay

“It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.” - Frederick Douglass

LINKS:

More on D’Agata and his Graywolf Press books: https://www.graywolfpress.org/author-list/john-dagata

D’Agata on KCRW’s Bookworm: http://www.kcrw.com/news-culture/shows/bookworm/john-dagata-the-making-of-the-american-essay

Antony & The Johnsons-“Another World”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp23w0v-GB8