Andre Dubus III (photo courtesy of W.W. Norton & Company)

You have to buy Townie, by Andre Dubus III.

I don’t usually tell people what books to buy—although you’ve noticed that I quite often go around telling them what they have to read—but in this case I’m making an exception.

You have to buy this book because once you read it, you’re going to want people you know to read it, and the easiest, most efficient way to make that happen is to lend them your own copy—at least briefly.

Because once they start reading it, they’ll realize they need their own copy, give you yours back, and go buy one of their own.

Who should read this? Angry, hungry sons. Professors who have kids. Angry professors who have kids. Any man who has a father he fiercely loves and fiercely hates. Any man who …

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