© 2025 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY
WECS · WEDW-FM · WNPR · WPKT · WRLI-FM · WVOF
Public Files Contact · ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Seeking 'The Good Life' in Post-9/11 New York

Detail from the cover of The Good Life.
Detail from the cover of The Good Life.

The attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, forced many Americans to reshape their lives. For New Yorkers whose plans and priorities were cast loose, the shocking losses were followed by the challenge of what to do next. That dilemma is at the heart of Jay McInerney's The Good Life.

Set in Manhattan, the novel relays the stories of a group of New Yorkers whose sense of identity and community is shaken, and ultimately strengthened, in the days following the terrorist attacks.

What emerges are stories of new possibility and determination, replete with the details of modern living that McInerney is an expert at capturing.

McInerney is also the author of the novels Bright Lights, Big City, Brightness Falls, and The Last of the Savages. In each of those books, McInerney's stories reflected the zeitgeist of the time, from the heady party days of Manhattan in the 1980s to the clash of idealism and money in America of the 1990s.

McInerney is currently on a promotional tour, giving readings from The Good Life around the country. And in a rare move, the author's tour has its own podcast, in which McInerney relays stories from Houston and other stops on the road.

Copyright 2023 Fresh Air. To see more, visit Fresh Air.

Combine an intelligent interviewer with a roster of guests that, according to the Chicago Tribune, would be prized by any talk-show host, and you're bound to get an interesting conversation. Fresh Air interviews, though, are in a category by themselves, distinguished by the unique approach of host and executive producer Terry Gross. "A remarkable blend of empathy and warmth, genuine curiosity and sharp intelligence," says the San Francisco Chronicle.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.