Uploaded August 2020 | Updated September 2026, 52 minutes ago
Gary Shteyngart’s parents were disappointed in their baby, who was sickly and asthmatic. His dad called him ‘Snotty’, his mom ‘Failurchka’ – hence the title of his new book, ‘Little Failure’. He is back at the John Adams for the second time to talk about his new book, his first foray into non-fiction in the form of memoir. He left Leningrad with his parents for the US at the age of seven. Only then did he start learning English – and now teaches writing at Columbia University. The immigrant experience, both his parents’ and his own, is a never-ending source for his satirical humor.
He is the author of the novels 'Super Sad True Love Story' and 'Absurdistan', and 'The Russian Debutante’s Handbook'. His work has been translated into twenty-six languages. Fellow author Nathan Englander, who spoke at the John Adams Institute in 2007 and 2012, called the book in a review “heartfelt, moving and truly engaging”, and The New York Times regards him as “one of his generation’s most original and exhilarating writers”.
This video was recorded on November 17, 2014.
For upcoming speakers, visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.john-adams.nl/.
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Gary Shteyngart’s parents were disappointed in their baby, who was sickly and asthmatic. His dad called him ‘Snotty’, his mom ‘Failurchka’ – hence the title of his new book, ‘Little Failure’. He is back at the John Adams for the second time to talk about his new book, his first foray into non-fiction in the form of memoir. He left Leningrad with his parents for the US at the age of seven. Only then did he start learning English – and now teaches writing at Columbia University. The immigrant experience, both his parents’ and his own, is a never-ending source for his satirical humor.
He is the author of the novels 'Super Sad True Love Story' and 'Absurdistan', and 'The Russian Debutante’s Handbook'. His work has been translated into twenty-six languages. Fellow author Nathan Englander, who spoke at the John Adams Institute in 2007 and 2012, called the book in a review “heartfelt, moving and truly engaging”, and The New York Times regards him as “one of his generation’s most original and exhilarating writers”.
This video was recorded on November 17, 2014.
For upcoming speakers, visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter: https://www.john-adams.nl/.
Also Follow us on:
Facebook: facebook.com/JohnAdamsInstitute
Instagram: instagram.com/johnadamsnl
Twitter: twitter.com/JohnAdamsNL
