The Moment - Paperback

by Larry Smith (Author)

From the creators of Six-Word Memoirs comes The Moment, a collection of personal stories from writers both famous and obscure revealing how a single instant changed their lives forever.

An innocuous decision, an unforeseen accident, a chance conversation, a tag sale, a terrorist strike, a tweet . . . sometimes all it takes is a single moment to redirect the course of an entire life. In the tradition of Smith magazine's Not Quite What I Was Planning and the sensational Six-Word Memoirs on Love & Heartbreak--and in the spirit of StoryCorps, the Moth, and This American Life--The Moment unveils everyday people's inner lives in narratives of all shapes and sizes, with stories from six to 1,000 words, photographs, comics, illustrations, handwritten letters, and more. It's enough to change your life forever.

This unforgettable collection of true stories explores the pivotal moments we all face:

• Turning Points: Discover how an unforeseen accident, a chance conversation, or even a tweet can redirect the course of an entire life.
• Famous and Unsung Voices: Poignant, funny, and unforgettable true stories from contributors like Dave Eggers, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Melissa Etheridge alongside brand-new writers.
• Moments of Self-Discovery: Explore raw, honest accounts that reveal the inner lives of everyday people facing extraordinary circumstances.
• A Multimedia Experience: More than just text, this collection brings moments to life with vivid photographs, illustrations, and even comics.

Back Jacket

The turning points, revelations, epiphanies, dramatic changes, the opening or closing of a door--in a life, a career, a love--can occur in a single glorious, terrible, unpredictable, serendipitous, crucial, calamitous, chaotic, amazing . . . Moment.

The creators of the enormously popular Not Quite What I Was Planning and Six-Word Memoir series now offer stories of the Moment--the one-time chances, unexpected coincidences, and sudden catastrophes that made all the difference in the story of one life.

The results are triumphant, outrageous, heartwarming, heartbreaking, embarrassing, illuminating, and inspiring--life-changing moments from contributors Dave Eggers, Diane Ackerman, Elizabeth Gilbert, Bill Ayers, Jennifer Egan, A. J. Jacobs, Judy Collins, and many more.