Episode 239 with Ben Purkert, Author of The Men Can't Be Saved and Thoughtful Writer of Complicated, Unforgettable Characters and Keen Chronicler of 21st Century Corporate Culture and Masculinity

Notes and Links to Ben Purkert’s Work

 

   For Episode 239, Pete welcomes Ben Purkert, and the two discuss, among other topics, his awakening to wonderful literature and his early poetry and formation as a writer, Robin Williams’ indelible mark on Ben’s writerly development, Ben’s short but eventful time working at an ad agency, Mad Men, and profane poetry, as well salient themes in his book like masculinity, religious and personal identities, one’s possibly-unreliable perspective, reinvention, and ideas of art versus commerce.

 

   Ben Purkert’s debut novel, The Men Can’t Be Saved, was named one of Vanity Fair’s Top 20 Books of 2023. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The Nation, Slate, The Wall Street Journal, Poetry, Kenyon Review, and he’s been featured by NPR, Esquire, and The Boston Globe. He is also the author of the poetry collection, For the Love of Endings. He holds degrees from Harvard and NYU, where he was a New York Times Fellow. He teaches in the Sarah Lawrence College MFA program.

 

Buy The Men Can't Be Saved

 

Washington Post Review of The Men Can't Be Saved

 

Review of The Men Can't Be Saved Review in Esquire

 

Ben's Webpage

 

At about 1:30, Ben recounts his story of meeting Martin Scorcese recently

At about 2:40, Congrats to n+1 mag!

At about 3:30, Ben talks about his early relationship with the written word

At about 5:30, Ben expresses his admiration for Robin Williams and how Williams was a “word guy” who led Ben to fiction

At about 8:00-Set Shot! Ben drops a poignant Louise Gluck quote and talks about writing and teaching inspiration from Dead Poets Society

At about 10:25, Ben talks about the writers/writing that “flipped the switch” for him, including Ben Lerner

At about 12:30, Ben cites Alexandra Kleeman and Andrés Barba (A Luminous Republic) as some of his favorite contemporary writers

At about 14:30, Pete and Ben discuss the book’s seeds in Ben’s work in advertising and the cultural phenomenon that was Mad Men, as well as the book as “grounded”/allegorical 

At about 18:55, Pete asks Ben about the significance of his epigraphs

At about 21:15, The two discuss who might play the famous older man from the successful ad at the opening of The Men Can’t Be Saved 

At about 22:10, Ben reads from the beginning of the book

At about 24:30, Ben talks about spending so much time on the book’s first page as he and Pete discuss a possible unreliable narrator in Seth

At about 26:40, The book’s exposition is recounted, including background of the ad agency

At about 28:10, Ben speaks to Pete’s supposition that Seth has some Patrick Bateman in him

At about 30:00, More plot is outlined, and characters like “Moon,” a pivotal character, is discussed 

At about 31:30, Ben reflects on men’s health accounts and other accounts within advertising and how “branding” 

At about 33:15, Seth’s Birthright trip and his work/life balance (or lack thereof) are examined 

At about 36:45, Seth’s hearing about the city of Acre and ideas of fresh starts are discussed, especially with regard to a new job

At about 37:40, Ben talks about ideas of Seth reflecting on, or not, his sense of himself and his Jewish identity

At about 39:00, Ramzy and Seth and their routine and relationship is discussed 

At about 42:20, The two discuss the character of Moon and ideas of masculinity and homophobia and homoeroticism within and without the book

At about 45:20, Ben talks about why he enjoyed writing a pivotal fight scene and the mechanics of same

At about 47:00, Ben tells an interesting story that gives background on the hilarious, X-rated poem written by Moon in the book-shout out Jessie Stephens and Uncle Fred! 

At about 48:30, The two discuss sexual harassment and toxic masculinity in the book and within the ad agency

At about 49:30, The two discuss Seth’s faith journey and Jewish identity as epitomized through two quotes and Jewishness as seen through a connection at the Chabad House-Ben references an essay he wrote about the comfort/community offered

At about 53:45, Pete notes the skill with which Ben’s work does not deal in absolutes

At about 55:20, Ben talks about exciting future projects

 

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    Please tune in for Episode 240 with Marcela Fuentes. Marcela is a Pushcart Prize-winning fiction writer and essayist; her debut novel MALAS was published on June 4 and has been named June’s Good Morning America Book Club Pick. 

The episode will go live on June 27. 

Lastly, please go to https://ceasefiretoday.com/, which features 10+ actions to help bring about Ceasefire in Gaza.