An instructor of a course in personal essay and memoir writing recommended this book to me, and I highly enjoyed reading it. Seven personal essays are included, including my two favorite, On Living Alone and On Letter Writing. Others include: On the Street Nobody Watches and Everybody Performs AND What Feminism Means to Me. This collection of likely to be particularly meaningful to the reflective woman who wants to read/hear the thoughtful, articulate and very personal female perspective.
Gornick's quite a good essayist - wish there were another collection of her work!
IMO, you must have a highly intellectual/artist's mind to fully appreciate this book.