167. New York Times book critic Dwight Garner on writing, reading, and eating

As a child, my dream was to have a career in books—a desire most writers share. This week’s guest on Beyond Better, Dwight Garner, gets to live that dream every day as a book critic for The New York Times.

In this delightful conversation, we talk about Garner’s latest book, The Upstairs Delicatessen. This smart, thoughtful book about reading and eating had me laughing out loud and reaching for a snack. We also discuss his writing and research process, as well as his role as a book critic. And as you might expect, I ask about his writing process, including how he balances writing with a demanding job at The Times.

Alongside book-related talk, we explore the role of food in family connection—and he answers a special question from my eleven-year-old daughter. 

If you love reading, writing, and eating—and listening to two book lovers talk about these topics—don’t miss this week’s episode. 

Show notes: 

• Eat Your Books
• Dwight's book: The Upstairs Delicatessen: On Eating, Reading, Reading About Eating, and Eating While Reading

Learn more about Dwight:

• X: @DwightGarner
• Facebook: Dwight Garner
• Instagram: @dwightgarner
• Threads: @dwightgarner

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