Why people recommend it
A Child of the Century is an expansive, substantial memoir written by the famous and skilled Hollywood screenwriter Ben Hecht. Filmmaker Steven Soderbergh discussed the book on The Book Review across two appearances, first in the July 18, 2024 episode titled Steven Soderbergh on His Year in Reading and again in the March 21, 2025 rerun titled Steven Soderbergh on His Reading Life. Soderbergh brought up the doorstop of a memoir to illustrate a personal quirk regarding his reading habits. He explained that he used to think it was a unique defect in his own brain that he naturally forgot books shortly after finishing them, until he read Hecht's memoir and discovered that the celebrated screenwriter experienced the exact same phenomenon. By referencing Hecht's candid reflections on memory and writing, Soderbergh used the memoir to normalize the fleeting nature of literary retention, making the book a memorable talking point on the podcast.
Who recommended it
- Steven Soderbergh Discussed
Steven Soderbergh — 2 mentions
“And I thought this was a defect in my brain until I read this book written by the famous and skilled Hollywood screenwriter Ben Hec, a child of the century, which is his doors stop of a memoir.”
“I thought this was a defect in my brain until I read this book written by the famous and skilled Hollywood screenwriter Ben heck a child of the century which is his door stop of a memoir”