Twentysomething Essays by Twentysomething Writers

Selected as the winners of Random House's national contest, a stunning collection of essays ranging from comic to poignant, personal to political, by the brightest young writers you haven't heard of . . . yet.

Here, for the first time, current twentysomethings come together on their own terms, in their own words, and begin to define this remarkably diverse and self-aware generation. Tackling an array of subjects-career, family, sex, religion, technology, art-they form a vibrant, unified community while simultaneously proving that there is no typical twentysomething experience.

In this collection, a young father works the late-night shift at Wendy's, learning the finer points of status, teamwork, and french fries. An artist's nude model explains why she's happy to be viewed as an object. An international relief worker wrestles with his choices as he starts to resent the very people who need his help the most. A devout follower of Joan Didion explains what New York means to her. And a young army engineer spends his time in Kuwait futilely trying to grow a mustache like his dad's.

With grace, wit, humor, and urgency, these writers invite us into their lives and into their heads. Twentysomething Essays by Twentysomething Writers is a rich, provocative read as well as a bold statement from a generation just now coming into its own, including these essays

"California" by Jess Lacher
"The Waltz" by Mary Beth Ellis
"The Mustache Race" by Bronson Lemer
"Sex and the Sickbed" by Jennifer Glaser
"Tricycle" by Rachel Kempf
"Prime-Time You" by John Fischer
"Backlash" by Shahnaz Habib
"Think Outside the Box but Stay Inside the Grid" by Emma Black
"Finding the Beat" by Eli James
"You Shall Go out with Joy and be Led Forth with Peace" by Kyle Minor
"The Idiot's Guide to Your Palm" by Colleen Kinder
"Sheer Dominance" by Christopher Poling
"Live Nude Girl" by Kathleen Rooney
"An Evening in April" by Radhiyah Ayobami
"Cliché Rape Story" by Marisa