Nonrequired Reading: Prose Pieces Hardcover – October 28, 2002

How does one review a book that the author herself doesn't think should be reviewed? Or, for that matter, a book composed entirely of book reviews? The title refers mainly to the books reviewed in this collection, but could also apply to the collection itself. The titles cover a wide range of subjects (some interesting, some not), but all of the short prose pieces accompanying them were fascinating and contained much humor. I would say that this book isn't necessary, but you won't be disappointed in it either should you choose to read it.

Wislawa Szymborska was an incredibly insightful and amusing writer. Her prose pieces are witty and fun to read. These short little pieces make this a great bathroom book! Seriously, there is a reason she was awarded the Noble Prize in Literature!

A poet who pays attention to little nothings , and holds them up and we bow to her and to them.

One of the most inspiring, quirky, iconoclastic and witty books I have read in a long time - every two-page essay (actually non-commissioned and unexpected reviews of non-fiction books the author picked up in bookstores because she was intrigued by their title or subject matter) is a polished gem of acute observations and incessant wonder about the curious strangeness of the people we all live with, and the weirdness of our social and natural laws. Required reading for all those who sometimes are bogged down by the standardized bulls***-newspeak of our journalists and intellectuals - and who need their brain aired and leavened with some beautiful and irreverent thoughts...non-recommended reading for fundamentalists and people who think eternal seriousness is some kind of virtue and indicates their moral superiority...this is an anti-catechism par excellence.

Used this book as a reference to quote the author on certain topics that she so eloquently covers.

The author reveals her subjects with a heartbeat if as though they are transcending time. It’s like I can almost feel them.

My favorite poet--a friend and a mentor.

This is a book of prose essays by the 1996 Nobel Prize winning author Wislawa Szymborska. They were from her newspaper column of 30+ years ago, "Nonrequired Reading". They are the musings on everyday books and subjects. It is a wide ranging and eclectic collection. There will be one essay on a touching Korean fable. Then, the next will be on how to make a reptile aquarium. Many of these essays were book reviews. However,they are more her thoughts on the subjects than reviews. When I say this book is like a "box of chocolates" it is in the Gumpian sense of the word. You never know what you're going to get and it will be interesting no matter what the topic. The aforementioned reptile aquarium piece was not only interesting but, philosophical as well.That the book was from a translation was not a problem. Ms. Cavanaugh, the tranlator, was the winner of the PEN Translator prize. Reading this, it seems to have travelled without a problem.For those buying this book: please read it! Do not put it on your coffee table to show off your erudition of having a Nobel Prize winning author's book so prominently on display. There is too much enjoyment to be had by reading this book.The essays are from one page to a page and a half in length. Hopefully, there will be more essays to come in the future.

This is not a collection of book reviews in any conventional sense. This brilliant and unique writer uses the book she is reviewing - whether it be a large historical survey or a book about DIY - to gather and shape her own thoughts about a broad range of fundamental questions, ranging from the nature of character in fiction through to the value of poetry in an age in which scientific enquiry appears to have the edge. It is, in its quirky and characteristically modest way, one of the finest and most thought-provoking books I've ever read.

I prefer her poetry to be honest, but this is a sort of alternative to book reviews, and is, as always, very clear and readable.I still enjoyed it, but it is her poems that I keep returning to.

Read a few reviews every night. It was good reading. I love her poetry and it was interesting to hear her thoughts on different books.