Essayist George Scialabba is a rare bird, the sort of independent general intellect whose disappearance is so often lamented. Noted for his distinctive voice, well-furnished mind, and dizzying range, Scialabba is a kind of writer’s writer, earning high praise from luminaries such as the late Richard Rorty and the ornery critic Russell Jacoby. He was also awarded the first National Book Critics Circle Nona Balakian Award for Excellence in Reviewing. Remarkably, he has won his reputation without an academic imprimatur, maintaining a day job as a facilities manager at Harvard.

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