I love how this book is equal parts irreverent and insightful. Baab-Muguira neither shies away from the negative ā€œfactsā€ about Poe nor from lionizing him at the same time. Itā€™s an intriguing character study that might make you want to dig deeper (both into Poe and into yourself too) that never loses its sense of humor.

Catherine Baab-Maguira's Poe for Your Problems
Catherine Baab-Maguira’s Poe for Your Problems

Insecurity is the real breakfast of champions.

My personal suspicion is that humans have evolved to feel as though we should make sense of our pain somehow, in the same way we feel strangely compelled to find uses for stale bread or driftwood.

Donā€™t let other peopleā€™s PR campaigns fool you. The fact that everyone on Facebook is apparently married to their best friend and ā€˜partner in crimeā€™ā€”crime meaning taco nights, a Chevy Tahoe, mega-church attendance, and one-point-seven children holding up those fancy chalkboards that say things like FIRST DAY OF FIFTH GRADE!!ā€”alone suggests a convenient social lie, like nearly all other social-media claims.

I really don’t know that a book this simple needs a stronger endorsement than what I’ve already given it. Enjoy!

Get Catherine Baab-Maguira’s Poe for Your Problems.

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