A master of the novel, short story, and memoir, the best-selling and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of EMPIRE FALLS now gives us his very first collection of personal essays, on writing, reading, and living.

In these nine essays, Richard Russo provides insight into his life as a writer, teacher, friend, and reader. From a commencement speech, to the story of how an oddly placed toilet made him reevaluate the purpose of humor in art and life, to his harrowing journey accompanying a dear friend undergoing gender-reassignment surgery, THE DESTINY THIEF reflects the broad interests and experiences of a beloved author. Warm, funny, wise, and poignant, the essays included here traverse Russo's writing life, expanding our understanding of who he is and how his singular, incredibly generous mind works. They give deep insight into the creative process from the prospective of one of our greatest writers.