Joyride by Susan Orlean

 ´(...) reporting makes you invincible´.

I don´t believe in role models in both journalism and literature. Trying to replicate someone else´s life and writing takes away your own creativity. But I strongly believe in people who are keeping your inspiration alive just by showing you how important is to keep what are you doing and how do be the best literary version of yourself.

Susan Orlean writes because she is curious. She examines closely ordinary things. She doesn´t teach a lesson, but wants to show you something that you never tought it is there. Her memoir, Joyride, I had access to in the audiobook format, read by the author herself, is a pleasure for the creative years. I felt blessed to have the chance of reading the contemporary works of such a talented nonfiction writer.

One can read it as both a handbook of contemporary journalism but also as the best remedy against writer´s block. You write because there is no other place for you in the world. You writes because you have the passion to open up to a timeless portal of human experiences. You write because you document humanity - yours and the other´s. 

I´ve had the chance few years back to watch a short video by Orlean explaining how to open up an article. Her articles - her iconic are included in the memoir - have the catchiest opening lines. Once you read it you cannot go away from it until you are reading them. 

Joyride also shares a lot of personal stories - like about her getting drunk on Twitter/currently X, but gives many examples of working with edition houses and the publishing industry in general. 

I will recommend this book to any journalist - in the making or just a bit disillusioned about the current state-of-the arts in the media. It makes you believe again in the power of written words. 

Rating: 5 stars