25 clams for a Good Title for Choire’s book

By • Mar 25th, 2009 • Category: 26th Story, Book News and Publishing

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.

Share This Post
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Tumblr
  • Blogger Post
  • TypePad Post
  • StumbleUpon
  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • MySpace
  • Google Bookmarks
  • AIM
Tagged as: ,
  • http://www.RobertaBeachJacobson.com Roberta Beach Jacobson

    Goodbye, Laughter

    Does this Mean Goodbye?

    Don’t Bury Me while I’m Standing!

    Panic Without Me

    If You Fold, Do I Fold?

    Misery Loves Us All

  • Me

    It’s up to you New York New York

  • http://www.amystewart.com Amy Stewart

    I Feel Funny About My Future.

    I love it that you guys are putting titles (and maybe covers?) up for discussion like this. My brother works in the film industry and it is so clear from his experience that focus groups, screenings, etc. are incredibly valuable when done properly.

  • Julia Cheiffetz

    Amy – love it – and thanks for your kind words

  • http://upalldamnnight.com andrew graham

    Pounding The Pavement On Park Avenue

    Creativity: Zero – Why Generations X And Y Are Out Of Ideas

    After The Laughter

    Whatever it ends up being titled, I’m looking forward to it.

  • Susanmpls

    Title and cover brainstorms are fun and funny. Always love the opportunity to provide input when a) it’s not my project, and b) come up with ideas carries absolutely no stress. Makes for a fun lunchtime diversion. ;)

    Life Seemed Better Then

    Disappearance of the Buck-Ninety-Nine Breakfast

    Ascending the Corporate Step Stool: The End of Advancement Opportunity

    Where Did My City Go?

    It’s Not Funny But I’m Laughing

  • http://www.jmgiordano.com JMGiordano

    Love’s Lattes Lost

  • phil

    New York was never ours and it never will be.

  • TimB

    Educated for Yesterday
    We Would Have Kicked Ass Yesterday.
    We Were the Next Media Elite
    Someone Owes Me a Towncar
    Self-Cannibalization: How Our Entry-Level Jobs Took Down The Industry We Were Hoping to Break Into (that’s my worst title, though best thought)

  • Simon

    What Choire said: “The Cost of Entry”

    (also a great porn title!)

  • Elizabeth S.

    Bright Lights, No Pity: Life in the Post-Boom Years

  • http://iplaudius.com iplaudius

    Window Shopping On Borrowed Time

    Dying of Consumption
    [get it?]

  • http://Haha. Jennifer H. Daniel

    Interlude of the Overexposed

  • Julia Cheiffetz

    @Phil: good one

  • Lindsey

    Go w/what Choire said: Nowhere to Go

    or

    You Don’t Have to Go Home, but You Can’t Stay Here
    Last Call

    (apparently I need a drink)

  • Adam Rochkind

    Coming Up As It All Came Down
    Broke Ass White Boys
    What Came Next
    Let Them Eat Ramen
    Recessionati
    Bursting Our Bubble
    Life in My Snuggie: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Unemployment

  • D

    Cheated

    All that for what?

  • Julia Cheiffetz

    @Elizabeth: Bright Lights, No Pity – like it

  • http://allhellhollywood.com/go-to-j-school-learn-business-have-regrets-media-crack/ Go to J-School, Learn Business, Have Regrets [Media Crack] « All Hell Hollywood

    [...] you contributed your Choire Sicha Book Title Idea yet? With a possible payout of $25, this is currently the most lucrative media job opportunity in [...]

  • http://keepingnickels.com Nichelle

    When You Get Caught Between the Doom and New York City

  • Bob Pagani

    *Generation Broke
    *Hubcap Soup (that one came to me in a dream the other day)
    *Un-e-ployed
    *iSad
    *Homeless On The Trading Floor
    *Preaching To The Choire
    *Where’s My Jetpack?
    *A Yugo In Every Garage
    *Shit Hits Fan, Film At Eleven
    *WTF!

  • Giovanni

    How much do I get for suggesting that he change the spelling of his name to Corey so people know how to pronounce it?

  • http://www.messinamarketing.com Mark Messina

    Hi Debbie :)

    How about “Losing New York”

    Mark

  • http://www.messinamarketing.com Mark Messina

    …and… Hi Julia, :)