Dwight Garner
Dwight Garner is a journalist and book critic for The New York Times.
I Miss Smoking
On most days, I’m glad I quit smoking. But something is gone from my life and, more essentially, from the culture—something we’re unlikely to get back.
How I Won the War Against Regret Playing Backgammon in Monte Carlo
The author may be one of the country's most important book critics, but like the rest of us, there was something he wanted to be good at, something else he didn't want to transform from a dream into a regret. So he packed a bag and his backgammon board and headed to Monte Carlo.
I Paid a Psychic $140 to Plumb the Deepest Depths of My Soul
She agreed to do some black magic for me. My enemies should consider themselves warned.
The 3 Changes I'm Making to Be Less Grouchy
I owe it to myself to stop being so goddamn irritable. And I owe it to my wife.
A Grandfather's Advice Is Priceless. Mine Taught Me to Make the Most of This Short Life.
He confronted each day as if it were a barn that needed raising.
How I Went from Being a Chunky Kid to a Man Comfortable in His Own Skin
Life is short; why not get the most out of it?
I've Relished Having Enemies in My Life. But Am I Wasting My Time?
Even though holding a grudge keeps us on our toes, I'm considering letting go.
Down and Out in First Class
We’re in the middle of an arms race in terms of the extreme pampering and florid bling airlines are offering the very rich. Given a rare upgrade, our author reports back on life in the front of the plane. Call it hardship duty.
Run Silent. Run Deep.
You’re not going crazy—the world is noisier than ever. And it feels harder than ever to escape the never-ending din. But there are ways to keep yourself sane.
The Problem with Spending It When You Have It
The minor vexations—and unexpected joys—of a cash-poor life.
What It's Like to Pool-Hop Across New York's Most Luxurious Rooftops
A string of pools as happy as one of Jack Kerouac's highways.
Secrets Are for Other People
Secrets matter. What's more, they're sexy. Maybe that's why we love to reveal them.
My Life as a Gout Man
A battle against the scourge of men who overindulge.
Don't Call It a Bribe
How the occasional well-targeted, slightly excessive gratuity can change your life.
We Admire Americans Who Don't Forget Their Roots
Even "coastal elites" go home.
Drinking Games
The smaller the balls, the bigger the stakes—and the more heated the competition.