“There are no gentle stories here, no placid European adventures or classic American road trips. Instead, there is Ben Austen's commentary on the multimillion-dollar rowdiness of NASCAR (screeching tires in the background), Jessica McCaughey's musings on orienteering and finding your own way, and Ariel Levy's exploration of the complex issues surrounding Native American casinos. These essays may not inspire vacation plans, but they will challenge readers' perceptions about certain parts of the world--thus living up to Crosley's definition and to the series' name.”

—Shelf Awareness

“Downright harrowing.”

—Kirkus Reviews

The Best American series is the premier annual showcase for the country’s finest short fiction and nonfiction. Each volume’s series editor selects notable works from hundreds of magazines, journals, and websites . A special guest editor, a leading writer in the field, then chooses the best twenty or so pieces to publish. This unique system has made the Best American series the most respected—and most popular—of its kind.