The essays in David Rakoff's collection, "Fraud", are priceless! I did not find them arrogant, self-indulgent or mediocre like several other readers who reviewed the book. Rather, I felt like I had discovered a writer who doesn't condescend to some uncomplimentary idea of a general public. Rakoff speaks as if to a close friend, sharing thoughts and stories and observations from his corner of the world in tones ranging from bitingly critical to unabashedly sentimental. Perhaps some objections stem from a lack of obligation on his part to explain or excuse himself, but it's a quality that I found refreshing, honest and immensely entertaining.