Skip to content
Launch Sale! 25% Off Nearly Every Book
To Save and to Destroy: Writing as an Other

To Save and to Destroy: Writing as an Other

Nguyen, Viet Thanh

Hardcover

$26.95 $20.21 Save 25%

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sympathizer (now an HBO series) comes a moving and unflinchingly personal meditation on the literary forms of otherness and a bold call for expansive political solidarity.

Born in war-ravaged Vietnam, Viet Nguyen arrived in the United States as a child refugee in 1975. The Nguyen family would soon move to San Jose, California, where the author grew up, attending UC Berkeley in the aftermath of the shocking murder of Vincent Chin, which shaped the political sensibilities of a new generation of Asian Americans.

The essays here, delivered originally as the prestigious Norton Lectures, proffer a new answer to a classic literary question: What does the outsider mean to literary writing? Over the course of six captivating and moving chapters, Nguyen explores the idea of being an outsider through lenses that are, by turns, literary, historical, political, and familial.

Each piece moves between writers who influenced Nguyen's craft and weaves in the haunting story of his late mother's mental illness. Nguyen unfolds the novels and nonfiction of Herman Melville, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ralph Ellison, William Carlos Williams, and Maxine Hong Kingston, until aesthetic theories give way to pressing concerns raised by war and politics. What is a writer's responsibility in a time of violence? Should we celebrate fiction that gives voice to the voiceless--or do we confront the forces that render millions voiceless in the first place? What are the burdens and pleasures of the "minor" writer in any society? Unsatisfied with the modest inclusion accorded to "model minorities" such as Asian Americans, Nguyen sets the agenda for a more radical and disquieting solidarity with those whose lives have been devastated by imperialism and forever wars.

EAN: 9780674298170
Publisher: Belknap Press
Publication Date: 2025-04-08
Pages: 144
Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
BISAC Subjects: American - Asian American & Pacific Islander, Cultural & Ethnic Studies - American - Asian American & Paci,
Subjects & Themes - Culture, Race & Ethnicity

FAQs

Still have questions?! Drop us an email

We ship worldwide! No matter where you are, we’ll get your favorite reads to your doorstep. We partner with reliable carriers to ensure safe and timely delivery, whether you're in the U.S. or across the globe. See our Shipping Policy page for a complete list of shipping methods and transit times.

We typically process and ship orders within 24 hours. Orders placed on weekends or holidays ship the next business day. Delivery time depends on your location and the shipping method selected. Below are our default options, with upgrades available at checkout:

Domestic Orders (U.S.): USPS Economy Mail (2–7 business days) - $3.99 for the first unit, $1.00 per additional unit.

International Orders: Standard International Mail (4–10 business days) - $14.00 for the first unit, $10.50 per additional unit.

See our Shipping Policy page for a complete list of shipping methods and transit times.

We accept all major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. For added convenience, we also offer Shop Pay for orders over $35.00, which provides flexible payment options. More details will be available at checkout.

Once your order ships, we’ll email you a tracking number so you can monitor its progress and estimated delivery date. If you haven’t received your tracking email within two days of placing your order, please check your spam or promotions folder. If it’s still missing, contact us at orders@bookpop.shop, and we’ll be happy to assist you.

Yes! You can send a gift directly to someone by entering their shipping address at checkout. We also offer a gift wrap service for $3.50 per item, and you have the option to include a personalized note with your order.

If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, within 30 days of placing your order, we will refund you for your purchase with no questions asked. Full details can be found in our Returns and Refund Policy

Returns and Refund Contact Info:
returns@bookpop.shop
415.318.0274
5 Lindsay Circle
San Francisco, CA 94124

Recommended Titles

Bag (0)

Your bag is currently empty!

Wishlist