17th
If you’ve ever wandered aimlessly through New York trench-coated in the rain, bought a single ticket at an old movie theater no matter what was showing, rummaged through an old bookstore’s forgotten shelves for hours upon hours, stopped by a no-name bar and talked to another solitary figure who - as it would turn out - has a reputation for something you’ve always found fascinating, then gone out in the rain together for a cigarette and blown mythic smoke rings around a mythic skyline, then yeah, you should own a copy of this book, because you’ve lived here long enough and it’s out of print and hey, you’ll be out of print too someday. The cover reads:
This serendipiter’s journey sets an errant course through some of the city’s back alleys and boulevards to visit some determined individuals in the swarm of conformists.
Well spoken, Mr. Talese.