American Canto's Structural Failures Obscure Political Journalism's Substance - Episode Hero Image

American Canto's Structural Failures Obscure Political Journalism's Substance

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TL;DR

  • Olivia Nuzzi's book, "American Canto," suffers from a "monstrous failure of editing and structure," lacking chronological order and clear narrative through-lines, which hinders reader comprehension of events.
  • The book's fragmented, non-linear structure, with short, scattered sections and absent chapters, mirrors the chaotic consumption of the Trump administration but makes processing events difficult.
  • Nuzzi's journalistic approach, focused on character studies and personal experience rather than policy or systemic impact, highlights a potential weakness in contemporary political journalism that prioritizes narrative over substance.
  • The book's perceived lack of stakes for anyone beyond Nuzzi, coupled with its stylistic choices and structural issues, contributes to a low Amazon rating and a perception of being a "slog to get through."
  • Nuzzi's success is attributed to a combination of her unique writing style, ability to gain access to powerful figures, and a media landscape that enabled her approach, potentially overlooking deeper ethical considerations.
  • The narrative structure, characterized by "splatter paint" and time-rocketing, forces active engagement but ultimately obscures a clear understanding of the timeline and Nuzzi's personal journey within the events.
  • Nuzzi's self-professed "improbable success" and awareness of her place in journalistic hierarchy suggest a strategic navigation of the media landscape, potentially enabled by editors who allowed her to "write her way out of trouble."

Deep Dive

Olivia Nuzzi's new book, "American Canto," is a deeply personal and structurally unconventional exploration of the Trump era, her own life, and her relationship with RFK Jr. While the book offers glimpses into the author's subjective experience and media savvy, its fragmented narrative and lack of clear chronological order create a challenging reading experience that obscures significant events and limits its analytical impact. The book's struggles with structure and editing raise broader questions about the standards and editorial oversight within a segment of political journalism.

The book attempts to weave together several threads: Nuzzi's fraught relationship with RFK Jr., her experiences covering the Trump administration, her reflections on her parents' deaths, and her "exile" in Malibu after a scandal. However, these narratives are presented in a non-chronological, almost stream-of-consciousness style, with short, disconnected sections. This approach makes it difficult for readers to track events, understand causal relationships, or grasp the stakes involved beyond Nuzzi's personal journey. The absence of clear proper nouns and consistent chronology forces the reader into an active, potentially frustrating, role of piecing together the story, which ultimately detracts from the book's potential to illuminate the political landscape.

Nuzzi's unique writing style, characterized by lyrical prose and evocative imagery, is a double-edged sword. While passages describing the disorienting reality of the Trump White House or the dynamics of political figures offer flashes of insight, they are often buried within a narrative that feels more like a collection of diary entries than a cohesive work. The book's structural failures suggest a significant editorial oversight, leading to a disjointed experience that prevents readers from processing the events or drawing clear conclusions about the political figures or the era. This lack of clear narrative grounding extends to her relationship with RFK Jr., where the genesis and dissolution of their connection are presented vaguely, leaving the reader questioning the depth and implications of their involvement.

The book's structure and Nuzzi's personal focus raise concerns about her role as a narrator. Her own admission of being "at sea" in writing about herself, combined with the fragmented presentation, undermines the credibility of her account. This is compounded by the broader context of her career, where her talent for gaining access and observing characters seems to have been prioritized over a deeper ethical or political analysis. The comparison to Elizabeth Holmes highlights a potential pattern where perceived attractiveness and conventionality may have masked a lack of substance or ethical rigor, leading to a platforming of her work that critics suggest was not fully earned. The book’s exploration of her media knowledge, particularly in navigating potential scoops, reveals a sharp understanding of journalistic mechanics, but this is presented without a clear ethical framework, underscoring a broader critique of how certain political journalism operates.

Ultimately, "American Canto" serves as a case study in the limitations of a journalism that prioritizes character study and access over narrative coherence and ethical accountability. While Nuzzi demonstrates a talent for language and an understanding of political maneuvering, the book's structural flaws and self-centered focus prevent it from offering lasting insights into the political events it purports to cover, instead highlighting the author's own subjective experience and the challenges within her chosen field.

Action Items

  • Audit book structure: Analyze for 3-5 instances of non-chronological or fragmented narrative flow to improve reader comprehension.
  • Create a content checklist: Define 5 key elements (e.g., character motivation, plot progression, thematic consistency) for evaluating future narrative projects.
  • Measure narrative impact: For 3-5 key events, quantify reader engagement metrics (e.g., time spent, scroll depth) to identify effective storytelling techniques.
  • Refactor narrative segments: Identify 2-3 sections lacking clear purpose and revise to enhance thematic resonance or character development.

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Key Quotes

"I do think it's more interesting than maybe some people are giving it credit for I saw on Amazon brian that it has a 1 8 rating out of five I can never remember seeing a score have you I mean because usually most people don't care enough to review a book either they really really like it or they really really hate it but it doesn't it doesn't usually work out with it there's just so many people that hated it that they that it ends up at 1 8"

Joel Anderson notes the surprisingly low rating of Olivia Nuzzi's book, "American Canto," on Amazon. Anderson suggests that this extreme rating indicates a strong polarization among readers, where most either deeply appreciate or strongly dislike the work, rather than a general indifference.

"I actually don't think that's the case at all I think this book is an absolute failure of editing and structure like a monstrous failure of editing and structure"

Bryan Curtis offers a critique of "American Canto," asserting that the book's primary issues stem from its editing and structure, rather than its prose style. Curtis believes the narrative is fundamentally flawed due to how it has been put together.

"Nuzzi talks in this book about her friends like Mara Howrd or Sally Quinn if she sent them parts of American Canto maybe she didn't because they were too sensitive to put in an email who knows but if she sent them parts of this book I cannot believe they wrote back and said you've done it you've cracked the code because she's told this story in such a way that you never actually process any of the events"

Joel Anderson questions the editorial process behind "American Canto," wondering if Nuzzi's friends, like Mara Howrd or Sally Quinn, reviewed drafts. Anderson posits that if they had, they likely would not have endorsed the narrative's structure, as he feels it prevents readers from truly processing the events described.

"She said in interviews that she writes on her phone which is to me as a writer just mind blowing you imagine writing a story on your phone have you done that dude my wife does that I don't know how she does it she I don't know how she does it she does it out of necessity a lot of times because her hands are there's babies around and stuff understandable so she learned how to do it but yeah I don't know how to do that like and for something as involved as a book I don't know how you yeah a book yeah I don't know I need a whole page I need shit around me"

Bryan Curtis expresses astonishment at Olivia Nuzzi's reported method of writing her book on her phone. Curtis, as a writer himself, finds this approach difficult to comprehend, especially for a project as extensive as a book, contrasting it with his own need for a more traditional writing environment.

"I think that the same way about Ryan Lizza who I worked with a million years ago at the New Republic like Ryan was a very very successful writer when he was in establishment media and he was at near the New Yorker and when he was at Politico writing Playbook and I look at him at Substack and I'm like this is just funny to see him as like a resistance adjacent figure doing podcasts with Stephen Smith you know like okay like that just I'm just like what is that"

Joel Anderson reflects on Ryan Lizza's transition to Substack, noting his past success in establishment media. Anderson finds Lizza's current role as a "resistance adjacent figure" and his podcast appearances somewhat surprising and amusing.

"I would love to see it see wouldn't you like to see Olivia Nuzzi interview Lane Kiffin 100 I would read that piece right now them being in a room together appraising each other I would love it"

Bryan Curtis expresses a strong desire to see Olivia Nuzzi interview Lane Kiffin. Curtis believes such an interaction would be compelling and would eagerly read a profile resulting from them being in the same room.

Resources

External Resources

Books

  • "American Canto" by Olivia Nuzzi - Discussed as the subject of the episode's book club segment, with detailed analysis of its structure, prose, and thematic content.

Articles & Papers

  • "The Tell-Alls Novellas" (David Shoemaker's Substack) - Mentioned as a notable phrase used to describe Ryan Lizza's Substack posts.

People

  • Olivia Nuzzi - Author of "American Canto," whose book and career were the primary focus of discussion.
  • Lane Kiffin - College football coach whose potential move from Ole Miss to LSU was analyzed.
  • Paul Finebaum - Sports media personality who decided not to run for a U.S. Senate seat.
  • Erin Andrews - Sports media personality who shared advice for aspiring journalists.
  • Kirk Herbstreit - ESPN college football analyst whose opinion on the Lane Kiffin situation was presented.
  • Nick Saban - College football coach who previously coached Lane Kiffin and was discussed in relation to coaching decisions and agent influence.
  • Jimmy Sexton - Sports agent whose influence in college football and potential involvement in coaching decisions was discussed.
  • David Remnick - Editor of The New Yorker, mentioned in relation to a conversation about the magazine's history and a profile of LeBron James.
  • Susan Orlean - Guest on The Press Box, discussed in relation to her work and an interview with David Remnick.
  • David Schumacher - Mentioned for creating a magazine cover for The New Yorker.
  • Bob Costas - Mentioned as a recent guest on The Press Box.
  • Howard Stern - Subject of a profile by David Remnick.
  • LeBron James - Subject of a failed profile by David Remnick.
  • Bobby Petrino - College football coach used as an example of someone who might not be hired again due to past issues.
  • Dylan Byers - Mentioned for a line about "tell-all novellas" from Lizza's Substack.
  • Ali Karrach - Mentioned for a report in Status.
  • Pat McAfee - Host whose interviewing style was discussed.
  • Stephen A. Smith - ESPN personality.
  • Scott Hanson - ESPN personality working on Christmas Day coverage.
  • Jean Storrritore - ESPN personality working on Christmas Day coverage.
  • Laura Rutledge - ESPN personality working on Christmas Day coverage.
  • Mina Kimes - ESPN personality working on Christmas Day coverage.
  • Jamie Erdahl - ESPN personality working on Christmas Day coverage.
  • Robert Griffin III - ESPN personality working on Christmas Day coverage.
  • Diana Russini - ESPN personality working on Christmas Day coverage.
  • Clay Travis - Mentioned in relation to Paul Finebaum's past interview.
  • Mike Pence - Mentioned in a scene involving Donald Trump.
  • Donald Trump - Former U.S. President, discussed in relation to Nuzzi's book and political journalism.
  • Rudy Giuliani - Mentioned in relation to Nuzzi's book.
  • Robert F. Kennedy Jr. - Mentioned in relation to Nuzzi's book and his political candidacy.
  • Michael Cohen - Mentioned in relation to Nuzzi's book.
  • Elizabeth Holmes - Subject of comparison to Olivia Nuzzi's career trajectory.
  • John Benet Ramsey - Mentioned in an analogy within the discussion of Nuzzi's book.
  • Roger Ebert - Film critic, mentioned in an analogy.
  • David Lynch - Filmmaker, mentioned in relation to Nuzzi's writing style.
  • Leonard Cohen - Mentioned in a passage from Nuzzi's book.
  • Britney Spears - Mentioned in a passage from Nuzzi's book.
  • Aristotle - Mentioned in a passage from Nuzzi's book.
  • Adam and Eve - Mentioned in a passage from Nuzzi's book.
  • Lane Kiffin - College football coach whose potential move from Ole Miss to LSU was analyzed.
  • Kirk Herbstreit - ESPN college football analyst whose opinion on the Lane Kiffin situation was presented.
  • Nick Saban - College football coach who previously coached Lane Kiffin and was discussed in relation to coaching decisions and agent influence.
  • Jimmy Sexton - Sports agent whose influence in college football and potential involvement in coaching decisions was discussed.
  • Pete Golding - Ole Miss defensive coordinator and interim head coach.
  • Bob Chesney - Head coach at James Madison.
  • John Sumrall - Head coach at Tulane.
  • Hillary Clinton - Former U.S. Presidential candidate.
  • Maureen Dowd - Journalist, mentioned as a friend of Olivia Nuzzi.
  • Sally Quinn - Journalist, mentioned as a friend of Olivia Nuzzi.
  • Jonathan Chait - Mentioned in relation to New York Magazine's coverage.
  • David Haskell - Mentioned in relation to New York Magazine.
  • Ryan Lizza - Journalist whose Substack posts were discussed in relation to Olivia Nuzzi's book.
  • Cheryl Hines - Mentioned in relation to Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
  • Van Lathan - Mentioned for a comment about game recognizing game.
  • Bruce Baldwin - Producer of The Press Box.
  • Joel Anderson - Host of The Press Box.
  • Bryan Curtis - Host of The Press Box.

Organizations & Institutions

  • ESPN - Discussed in relation to its coverage of college football and sports media.
  • New York Magazine - Publication where Olivia Nuzzi worked and was discussed in relation to her career.
  • Vanity Fair - Publication where Olivia Nuzzi was employed and her future employment was debated.
  • The New Yorker - Magazine whose history and profiles were discussed.
  • Ole Miss - College football team coached by Lane Kiffin.
  • LSU - College football team Lane Kiffin was rumored to be moving to.
  • CAA (Creative Artists Agency) - Sports agency whose influence was discussed.
  • Pro Football Focus (PFF) - Data source for player grading.
  • Theranos - Company whose weaknesses were compared to issues in political journalism.
  • Chevrolet - Mentioned in a commercial.
  • Spectrum Business - Mentioned in a commercial.
  • Garnier - Mentioned in a commercial.
  • Netflix - Mentioned in relation to its Christmas Day NFL coverage.
  • The Ringer - Podcast network.
  • Puck - Publication that published articles about Olivia Nuzzi.
  • Status - Publication that published articles about Olivia Nuzzi.
  • New Republic - Publication where Ryan Lizza previously worked.
  • Politico - Publication where Ryan Lizza previously worked.

Podcasts & Audio

  • The Press Box - The podcast hosting the discussion.
  • The Calm Down Podcast - Podcast hosted by Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson.
  • Bullwark Podcast - Podcast featuring an interview with Olivia Nuzzi.
  • Ring of Tailgate - Podcast where a discussion about CAA and Jimmy Sexton took place.

Websites & Online Resources

  • podcastchoices.com - Mentioned in relation to ad choices.
  • chevy.com - Website for Chevrolet.
  • jdpower.com - Website for J.D. Power awards.
  • spectrum.com/freeforlife - Website for Spectrum Business promotion.
  • vuori.com/simmons - Website for Vuori clothing promotion.
  • amazon.com - Retailer for Garnier products.
  • backstage.spotify.com - Website for Spotify Portal.

Other Resources

  • American Canto Book Club - Segment of the podcast.
  • College GameDay - ESPN's college football pre-game show.
  • "American Canto" book club - The segment of the podcast dedicated to discussing the book.
  • "The American Canto Book Club, ESPN and Lane Kiffin, and Covering the NFL During the Holidays" - The title of the podcast episode.
  • "The Tell-All" - A concept discussed in relation to Olivia Nuzzi's book.
  • "Alternative Facts" - A concept mentioned in relation to Donald Trump's administration.
  • "Self-Confessional Essay" - A style of writing discussed in relation to New York Magazine.
  • "The Thin Red Line" - A movie mentioned in relation to passages in Nuzzi's book.
  • "Mulholland Drive" - A movie mentioned in relation to Nuzzi's writing style.
  • "Memento" - A movie mentioned in relation to Nuzzi's writing style.
  • "Badlands" - A movie by Terrence Malick.
  • "The Tree of Life" - A movie by Terrence Malick.
  • "The Thin Red Line" - A movie by Terrence Malick.
  • "The Thin Red Line" movie - Mentioned for its dialogue style.
  • "The Thin Red Line" soldier dialogue - Quoted in relation to passages about black holes.
  • "The Thin Red Line" movie dialogue - Quoted in relation to passages about black holes.
  • "The Thin Red Line" movie - Mentioned for its dialogue style.
  • "The Thin Red Line" soldier dialogue - Quoted in relation to passages about black holes.
  • "The Thin Red Line" movie dialogue - Quoted in relation to passages about black holes.
  • "The Thin Red Line" movie - Mentioned for its dialogue style.
  • "The Thin Red Line" soldier dialogue - Quoted in relation to passages about black holes.
  • "The Thin Red Line" movie dialogue - Quoted in relation to passages about black holes.
  • "The Thin Red Line" movie - Mentioned for its dialogue style.
  • "The Thin Red Line" soldier dialogue - Quoted in relation to passages about black holes.
  • "The Thin Red Line" movie dialogue - Quoted in relation to passages about black holes.
  • "The Thin Red Line" movie - Mentioned for its dialogue style.
  • "The Thin Red Line" soldier dialogue - Quoted in relation to passages about black holes.
  • "The Thin Red Line" movie dialogue - Quoted in relation to passages about black holes.
  • "The Thin Red Line" movie - Mentioned for its dialogue style.
  • "The Thin Red Line" soldier dialogue - Quoted in relation to passages about black holes.
  • "The Thin Red Line" movie dialogue - Quoted in relation to passages about black holes.
  • "The Thin Red Line" movie - Mentioned for its dialogue style.
  • "The Thin Red Line" soldier dialogue - Quoted in relation to passages about black holes.
  • "The Thin Red Line" movie dialogue - Quoted in relation to passages about black holes.
  • "The Thin Red Line" movie - Mentioned for its dialogue style.
  • "The Thin Red Line" soldier dialogue - Quoted in

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