''Reading Myself and Others'' (1975) is an anthology of essays, interviews and criticism by the author

Philip Roth Philip Milton Roth (March 19, 1933 – May 22, 2018) was an American novelist and short story writer. Roth's fiction—often set in his birthplace of Newark, New Jersey—is known for its intensely autobiographical character, for philosophicall ...

. The first half of the book is built mainly upon Roth's assessment of his own published works at the time of the anthology's publication. The second half of the volume consists of essays and introductions by Roth about other authors. Many of the essays were occasioned by the abrupt fame and scrutiny which came to Roth upon the publication of his storm-provoking fourth novel, ''

Portnoy's Complaint ''Portnoy's Complaint'' is a 1969 American novel by Philip Roth. Its success turned Roth into a major celebrity, sparking a storm of controversy over its explicit and candid treatment of sexuality, including detailed depictions of masturbation us ...

'' (1969). In the "Author's Note", Roth writes that the selections in the book "are largely the by-products of getting started as a novelist, and then of taking stock." ''Reading Myself'' includes interviews of Roth conducted by other authors as well as several essays in which Roth attempts to answer some of the critics of his early works. Among the interviews, one was conducted by the author

Joyce Carol Oates Joyce Carol Oates (born June 16, 1938) is an American writer. Oates published her first book in 1963, and has since published 58 novels, a number of plays and novellas, and many volumes of short stories, poetry, and non-fiction. Her novels '' Bla ...

about Roth's novel ''

The Breast ''The Breast'' (1972) is a novella by Philip Roth, in which the protagonist, David Kepesh, becomes a 155-pound breast. Throughout the book Kepesh fights with himself. Part of him wishes to give in to bodily desires, while the other part of him ...

'' (1972). Appropriate to the book's title, Roth even conducts a self-interview about the origins and intentions of his work. ''Reading Myself'' also includes a letter that Roth wrote, but never sent, to the literary critic

Diana Trilling Diana Trilling (née Rubin; July 21, 1905 – October 23, 1996) was an American literary critic and author, one of a group of left-wing writers known as the New York Intellectuals. Background Born Diana Rubin, she married the literary and cu ...

in response to her dismissive review of ''Portnoy's Complaint''; Trilling found ''Portnoy'' "lacking", but Roth found Trilling's reasoning as lacking too.Wyatt Mason (2008)
Weekend Read: Roth’s (Justified) Complaint, or “Document Dated July 27, 1969”
',

Harper's Magazine ''Harper's Magazine'' is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts. Launched in New York City in June 1850, it is the oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. (''Scientific American'' is older, b ...

, June 2008

Notes

References

*Brauner, David (1969) ''Getting in Your Retaliation First: Narrative Strategies in Portnoy's Complaint'' in Royal, Derek Parker (2005)
Philip Roth: new perspectives on an American author
', chapter 3 American anthologies 1975 books Farrar, Straus and Giroux books Books by Philip Roth {{anthology-book-stub