Ross Gay’s The Book of Delights, published February 12, 2019, is a collection of short, lyrical, autobiographical essays written over the course of one year. Gay has written four books of poetry and two collections of essays including The Book of Delights, which was a New York Times Bestseller. His poetry collection Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude won the 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award and the 2016 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. The Book of Delights introduces themes such as the symbiotic relationship between joy and grief, Gay’s experience as a Black man in the United States, and the inherent goodness of humanity. This guide refers to the 2019 eBook edition.

Other works by this author include A Small Needful Fact, Wedding Poem, and Sorrow Is Not My Name.

Content Warning: The source text and this guide contain discussions of racism.

Plot Summary

In The Book of Delights, Gay records a year-long project to find and write about one delight per day, writing each essay by hand and starting on his 42nd birthday. He ends the project with 102 essays of various lengths that focus on one or more topics that he found delightful. Gay finds delight in flowers, gardens, old and new friends, music, books, coffee, bugs, and more. The 102 essays do not follow a chronological or narrative order and act like journal entries, recording what Gay is thinking about in the present moment and often recalling memories from his childhood. While there is no consistent structure to the essays, certain themes emerge. Gay’s rambling thoughts explore the symbiotic relationship between grief and joy, share his experience as a Black man in the United States, and find examples of the inherent goodness of humanity and the connection between all people.

By recounting stories from his childhood and sharing stories of the inevitable emotional turmoil he’s experienced, Gay explores how grief does not detract from joy, but highlights it. Some essays deal with this theme directly by studying the definition of joy and the role it plays in relationships. Other essays demonstrate the topic by honestly recounting heartbreaking stories from friends, observing politics and current events, and exploring the concept of death.

Gay consistently writes about his experience as a Black man in the United States and dedicates many essays to racism, violence against the Black community, and how popular media tries to conflate Blackness and suffering. He shares stories from friends and examines how his family navigated receiving racist treatment throughout his childhood. He remains dedicated to finding delight even in difficult experiences and discovers things to celebrate during his anxiety and paranoia.

Lastly, in nearly every essay, Gay celebrates the inherent goodness of humanity and finds more proof in the common decency of people. While traveling, especially, he finds evidence of how good and loving people are while watching strangers complete ordinary tasks. He also believes that all people are connected and relishes familial acts of intimacy and trust. Many essays focus on single actions from strangers and how they encouraged Gay.

Each essay in the collection identifies and explains at least one thing Gay found delightful. The result of Gay’s recordings is a collection of autobiographical, philosophical, and socio-political reflections. The Book of Delights is a unique study of the delights found in everyday life and the implications of living a life dedicated to joy and gratitude.