A friend of mine once called Choire Sicha “the Joan Didion of Gawker.” I actually don’t think that’s too much of a stretch. Like Didion, (and Candice Bushnell, I suppose,) Choire expresses his relationship to the city in human terms: 

“If you’re fascinated by something you can get close to it—that’s always been true about New York,” he said. “But I also feel like the $1.99 breakfast sort of went away, and the room for rent in the East Village went away, too. The cost of entry became prohibitive with the last little boomlet we had, in a kind of extreme way.” He went on: “I had a million jobs when I moved here, and what I see happening among my younger friends, and among people I’m interviewing who are kind enough to give me their time, is there’s nowhere to go.” [Observer] 

The week Choire first came in to brainstorm we talked about all of the business books about the economic crisis that had been sold. (I think by that point there were at least ten in the pipeline.) It occurred to both of us that, while the Times and other mainstream media is covering the social impact of the recession, there is still something dark and intense –  a profound disorientation deeply felt by people in their 20s and 30s– that isn’t being documented. 

We’re kicking around a few titles and would love your ideas. 

The Last Party

Recess 

F**k Tomorrow 

The Morning After 

Choire’s inbox has been flooded with emails from people wanting to share their story. You can reach him at choire@choiresicha.com And we’re serious about the $25.