Nobody's Perfect：Writings from The New Yorker

AnthonyLaneonConAir—“AdvancewordonConAirsaidthatitwasallaboutanairplanewithanunusuallydangerousandpotentiallylethalload.Bigdeal.YoushouldtrythelunchestheyserveoutofNewark.ComparedwiththechickennapalmIateonmylastflight,themeninConAirareaboutasdangerousasballoons.”AnthonyLaneonTheBridgesofMadisonCounty—“Igotmycopyattheairport,behindaguywhowasbuyingPlayboy’sBookofLingerie,andIthinkhehadthebetterdeal.Hecertainlylookedhappywithhispurchase,whereasIhadtoaskforapaperbag.”AnthonyLaneonMarthaStewart—“Super-skilled,freeoffear,thelastwordinhumanefficiency,MarthaStewartisthewomanwhoconvincedamillionAmericansthattheyhavethetime,themeans,theright,and—damnit—thedutytopipealittlesquirtofsoftcheeseintothemiddleofasnowpea,andtocontinuepipinguntilthereare‘fiftytosixty’stuffedpeasraringtogo.”Fortenyears,AnthonyLanehasdelightedNewYorkerreaderswithhisfilmreviews,bookreviews,andprofilesthatrangefromBusterKeatontoVladimirNabokovtoErnestShackleton.Nobody’sPerfectisanunforgettablecollectionofLane’strademarkwit,satire,andinsightthatwillsatisfyboththelongaddictedandthenotsofamiliar.