High Notes

A selection of classic high points in the illustrious career of Gay Talese.

“[High Notes] reminds us of the indefatigable reporting skills and inventive use of language that made Talese a paragon of the New Journalism.” —New York Times Book Review

Admired by generations of reporters, Gay Talese has for more than six decades enriched American journalism with an unmatched ability to inhabit the worlds of his subjects. From the article that germinated into Thy Neighbor's Wife, to indelible portraits of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Lady Gaga, High Notes selects the highlights of Talese’s signature mode, “the art of hanging out.” It’s a bold testament to enduring literary craftsmanship and unparalleled cultural observation from "the most important nonfiction writer of his generation" (David Halberstam).