[How it Works](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/how-it-works/) [Bookshop](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/books/bindery/) [Publishing](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/publishing/) [Team](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/team/) [Contact](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/contact/) Log in or Sign up The Book of Delights: Essays Ross Gay Save to Your Books [Bookshop](https://bookshop.org/a/101337/9781616207922) [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/1616207922?tag=hngisreading-20) 100% of affiliate revenue supports Mood Reads As Heard on NPR's _This American Life_: The New York Times bestselling book of essays celebrating ordinary delights in the world around us by one of America's most original and observant writers, award-winning poet Ross Gay. Pre-order _The Book of (More) Delights_ now, too! > “Ross Gay’s eye lands upon wonder at every turn, bolstering my belief in the countless small miracles that surround us.” —Tracy K. Smith, Pulitzer Prize winner and U.S. Poet Laureate. **The winner of the NBCC Award for Poetry offers up a spirited collection of short lyrical essays, written daily over a tumultuous year, reminding us of the purpose and pleasure of praising, extolling, and celebrating ordinary wonders.** In _The Book of Delights_, one of today’s most original literary voices offers up a genre-defying volume of lyric essays written over one tumultuous year. The first nonfiction book from award-winning poet Ross Gay is a record of the small joys we often overlook in our busy lives. Among Gay’s funny, poetic, philosophical delights: a friend’s unabashed use of air quotes, cradling a tomato seedling aboard an airplane, the silent nod of acknowledgment between the only two black people in a room. But Gay never dismisses the complexities, even the terrors, of living in America as a black man or the ecological and psychic violence of our consumer culture or the loss of those he loves. **More than anything else, though, Gay celebrates the beauty of the natural world—his garden, the flowers peeking out of the sidewalk, the hypnotic movements of a praying mantis.** _The Book of Delights_ is about our shared bonds, and the rewards that come from a life closely observed. These remarkable pieces serve as a powerful and necessary reminder that we can, and should, stake out a space in our lives for delight. Show more Get the Bindery app * * * Posts about this title from Mood Reads [Mood Reads\\ \\ Hannah\\ \\ • Mar 25 2024](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/) [Spring Break 2024: Chicago Bookstore Tour! Second Stop: Unabridged!](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/item/fl9V1u0m7DP7Bse9MXO0/) * * * 8 books [Mood Reads\\ \\ Hannah\\ \\ • Jan 31 2024](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/) [January Wrap Up](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/item/iDuM2p2oc8eFpV8NMQvZ/) WHEW! My first monthly wrap up of 2024! 23 books!! #januarywrapup #januarybooks #2024books #booktok #booksireadthismonth #bookish * * * 22 books [Mood Reads\\ \\ Hannah\\ \\ • Jan 15 2024](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/) [Book Review: The Book of Delights by Ross Gay](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/item/YSVkhOVyfAm9bX887Xnz/) Book Review: The Book of Delights by Ross Gay #bookreview #essaycollection #thebookofdelights #delightful #booktok #booktokrecommendations * * * 1 book [Mood Reads\\ \\ Hannah\\ \\ • Jan 14 2024](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/) [Weekly Wrap Up: 1/8 - 1/13](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/item/OANX7LPQ7UOnXaNOd2Dj/) Let me know if you want longer reviews of anything! #booktok #weeklyreadingwrapup #booksirecommend #bookish #booktokforyou #bookreviews * * * 5 books Posts about this book from across Bindery [Mood Reads\\ \\ Hannah\\ \\ • Mar 25 2024](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/) [Spring Break 2024: Chicago Bookstore Tour! Second Stop: Unabridged!](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/item/fl9V1u0m7DP7Bse9MXO0/) * * * 8 books [Mood Reads\\ \\ Hannah\\ \\ • Jan 31 2024](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/) [January Wrap Up](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/item/iDuM2p2oc8eFpV8NMQvZ/) WHEW! My first monthly wrap up of 2024! 23 books!! #januarywrapup #januarybooks #2024books #booktok #booksireadthismonth #bookish * * * 22 books [Mood Reads\\ \\ Hannah\\ \\ • Jan 15 2024](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/) [Book Review: The Book of Delights by Ross Gay](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/item/YSVkhOVyfAm9bX887Xnz/) Book Review: The Book of Delights by Ross Gay #bookreview #essaycollection #thebookofdelights #delightful #booktok #booktokrecommendations * * * 1 book [Mood Reads\\ \\ Hannah\\ \\ • Jan 14 2024](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/) [Weekly Wrap Up: 1/8 - 1/13](https://moodreads.binderybooks.com/item/OANX7LPQ7UOnXaNOd2Dj/) Let me know if you want longer reviews of anything! #booktok #weeklyreadingwrapup #booksirecommend #bookish #booktokforyou #bookreviews * * * 5 books