The Best American Essays 2023: Best American

The Best American Essays 2023 is a collection of twenty-one thought-provoking and deeply personal essays that explore the human experience in all its complexity.

Guest editor Vivian Gornick's selections celebrate the endurance of the human spirit, even in the face of authoritarian and populist censorship movements.

Through unapologetic observations of the world around them, these essays reflect the authors' struggles to find purpose, cope with the unpredictable nature of their patients, and wish for just a little more time with loved ones.

With its focus on lived experience, this anthology is a testament to the power of personal narratives and their ability to inspire empathy and understanding.