Book · 2017 · Literary Criticism
Better Living Through Criticism
How to Think About Art, Pleasure, Beauty, and Truth
Why people recommend it
Better Living Through Criticism by A. O. Scott is a thoughtful cultural exploration of the role, purpose, and struggles of artistic criticism in contemporary society. On an episode of The Book Review released in September 2026, Taffy Brodesser-Akner reflected on the book while discussing the complexities and emotional weight of artistic creation and literary evaluation. Brodesser-Akner mentioned that she kept roughly twenty copies of Scott's book on hand specifically so she could give them away to friends and colleagues, underlining her deep admiration for the work. She noted that the book brilliantly opens with the philosophical premise that all art fundamentally attempts to photocopy and recreate the lost perfection of the Garden of Eden. Through this enthusiastic endorsement, Brodesser-Akner celebrated Scott's insightful prose and his examination of why humans feel a persistent urge to make and judge art. The recommendation highlighted the enduring relevance of criticism as an act of creative engagement rather than mere judgment, offering readers a profound lens through which to view human artistic expression.
Who recommended it
- Taffy Brodesser-Akner Recommended
Taffy Brodesser-Akner — 1 mention
“And I think very often of our friend and colleague Ao Scott um if you've never read his book better living through criticism um I keep like 20 of them around and I give them to people. Um, and the way it starts is saying that all art is trying to photocopy and recreate the Garden of Eden.”