Lost in summerland Essays

Swanson's first book is a patchwork of personal essays, many previously published, that find him struggling with the gray in a world that wants everything in black and white. In several pieces, he attends unusual events, like Evryman, an all-male retreat; a West Wing superfan conference; and a seminar hosted by the Venus Project about socio-cyberneering. But unlike other essayists who might use this trope for humor, Swanson is continually looking for meaning and depth, which is pinpointed in the title essay about his trip to a psychic retreat with his brother, Andy. Several years after experiencing a traumatic brain injury, Andy begins to believe he can commune with the dead. Completely freaked out, he goes to the retreat to find answers and understand what's happening to him. But the answers don't come easy, if at all. And that is the crux of it: Swanson searches for sense and narrative in a world that is often senseless and even bleak. While he provides more questions than answers, Swanson's contemplative collection is relatable, timely, and thought-provoking.

Journalist Swanson investigates in his searching debut what he sees as America's pervasive spiritual restlessness and alienation. In probing his central concern of how American communities cope with and find meaning in the wake of "national turmoil or geopolitical crisis," Swanson mixes in personal stories about his own search for greater fulfillment. In "Consciousness Razing," he attends Evryman, a three-day, all-male retreat in Ohio where men confront their toxic masculinity, and is disappointed by the reluctance among the attendees to seriously consider the structural forces "behind their fear and instability." "The Soldier and the Soil" is a portrait of Steve Acheson, an anti-war veteran in Wisconsin who turned the "star-spangled gallantry promulgated in textbooks and Hollywood blockbusters" of veterans on its head. "Midwestern Gothic" shines a light on how pervasive conspiracy theories are in the industrial Midwest, in the wake of the mysterious death of the author's best friend. Swanson often accompanies scenes of grief with moments of levity, as in "Okay Forever," when he is unable to choose a gift at a hospital gift shop for his brother who has a traumatic brain injury, and ends up "sobbing in public with face pressed against the stuffed pectoral of an oversized Foghorn Leghorn." Full of measured skepticism, Swanson's sharp interrogation of contemporary American life hits hard and true. (May)

A probing essay collection that tackles relevant issues emerging in America's current shaky political and social climate. In "Consciousness Razing," Swanson recounts his experience at a "manhood-confirming" adventure retreat hosted by a men's encounter group called Evryman. As the weekend's activities triggered strong emotional reactions, the author questioned the intent of such movements. "The relevant question for me…is whether this torrent of emotion is a meaningful intervention into the debate about masculinity," he writes, "whether Evryman is treating the symptom or the cause." In his account of his time at a convention for fans of The West Wing, Swanson reflects on the renewed interest in the series as a signal of a nostalgic yearning for its idealistic portrayal of governance. "Whereas Obama followed the rules of Aristotelian drama and thus resembled a president from Aaron Sorkin's imagination," writes the author, "Trump obeyed the anti-narratives of reality television, where what matters most is not coherence or logical progression, but chaos and titillation." The title essay follows Swanson's visit to a psychic convention in upstate New York, a journey prompted by the experiences of his brother, who had suffered a brain injury that caused him to experience psychic visions. This is one of the more compelling and moving pieces, as the author delves informatively into the dynamics of the sibling relationship and reflects on his struggles with depression. With the exception of a couple pieces that miss the mark in their humorous aim--e.g., visiting the massive Noah's Ark waterpark in Wisconsin--these are mostly tuned-in, absorbing essays. However, the author sometimes relies too heavily on affected wordplay that doesn't always match the subject matter. In comparison to the crisp prose of a few contemporaries--Jia Tolentino and Zadie Smith come to mind--Swanson's overly mannered style can be distracting. If he can rein in the tendency to overwrite, this could be the start of a fruitful career. Intelligent, well-informed essays from a promising if occasionally pedantic writer. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.