[{"id":316743,"date":"2026-09-24T08:37:19","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T12:37:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/electricliterature.com\/?p=316743"},"modified":"2026-09-24T13:44:21","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T17:44:21","slug":"bret-stephens-is-big-mad-at-the-best-writers-he-hasnt-read","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/electricliterature.com\/bret-stephens-is-big-mad-at-the-best-writers-he-hasnt-read\/","title":{"rendered":"Bret Stephens Is Big Mad at the Best Writers He Hasn\u2019t Read"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By now you might\u2019ve seen the mystifying, callous, and yes\u2014quite racist\u2014opinion essay published two days ago in The<\/em> New York Times<\/em> by Bret Stephens. In it, he refers to the National Book Awards as the \u201cliterary world\u2019s DEI checklist.\u201d Electric Literature doesn\u2019t link directly to foolishness\u2014if you want to read the essay, you can find it on your own\u2014but I was inspired to take a moment to unravel the premise upon which his essay rests and acknowledge the brilliance of the books he attacks. <\/p>\n\n\n

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“No, I won\u2019t link this fuckshit here, because I won\u2019t drive traffic to such intellectually lazy writing.” – Joseph Osmundson <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Stephens begins by noting, accurately, the increase in diversity among winners of the National Book Awards, particularly in fiction and nonfiction, over the last decade. He goes on to suggest that this is an overcorrection for the many decades in which white male authors, almost exclusively, were recognized with the award. He attributes this recent shift to the political leanings of the judges, embracing the idea that politics influencing art is problematic and diminishes the quality of the art itself. He concludes that these books couldn\u2019t possibly be the best books of the year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m not here to write an essay on the intersection of art and politics, but I do want to recognize the egregiousness of this argument. Literature is political; it has always been political. The very act of reading is, and has always been, politicized. Especially in this country. The idea that political ideology negates, or is irrelevant to, artistic merit is specious\u2014I can\u2019t even believe he wrote it. One look at any of these books, and you will realize that they are simply the result of the world we live in, the conditions of the lives of these authors, their communities, and those they are writing to and for. That they are being rewarded is, in my opinion, an indication of excellent taste. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Electric Literature, we consider ourselves to be something of a literary tastemaker, and we want to acknowledge the quality of the books against which Stephens took aim\u2014some of which we\u2019ve been honored to cover over the last year. Joseph Osmundson, one of the longlisted authors in nonfiction, assembled this list as a resource, and is graciously allowing us to publish it here. Many of these books tell stories that wouldn\u2019t, or couldn\u2019t, have been told just a few decades ago. Diverse stories appeal to diverse readers. They bring more people to the practice of reading, which inspires more people to become writers. I\u2019m sorry, Bret Stephens, but that is a good thing. To our readers, all of whom have the very best literary taste, I encourage you to buy these books. Read them! Let us know what you<\/em> think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014Denne Michele Norris
Executive Director and Publisher<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following list was compiled and annotated by Joseph Osmundson with help from the EL staff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In order of his inane mockery:<\/p>\n\n\n\n