'You Can't Be This Furry' And Other Life Lessons From Gary Shteyngart

Fresh Air | Oct 10, 2014

In Little Failure, the novelist recounts his emigration from the USSR to the U.S. when he was 7. For the first few years, he says, he would sit alone in the school cafeteria, talking to himself in Russian "in this gigantic fur hat and fur coat." It wasn't long before a teacher advised, "Children won't play with you if you have that much fur on."

Originally aired Jan. 7, 2014.

Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

Be alert for scams. WNYC never asks for nor accepts money for coverage or interviews. Anyone making such a request does not represent WNYC.

WNYC is funded by sponsors and member donations

Top Stories

Your guide to voting in New York's 2026 elections for governor and Congress

A primer on the races for governor, attorney general and the congressional districts that could help determine control of the U.S. House.
Gothamist |

Gina Hinojosa Aims to Make Texas Blue Again. Plus, Reading Is Alive and Well

A Texas Democrat is running neck and neck with the Republican incumbent in the governor’s race. And a staff writer says that news of the demise of books is greatly exaggerated.
The New Yorker Radio Hour |

Claire Valdez on populism and the DSA agenda in Congress

Who’s Running This Place |

The Classroom/Technology Pipeline

Natasha Singer's new book explores how big tech became ensconced in our childrens' classrooms
On the Media |
YOU ARE ONLINE