Tabula Rasa

John McPhee's Tabula Rasa offers a reflective look at his long career, focusing on unfinished projects and the stories behind them.

In Tabula Rasa, John McPhee reflects on his extensive career in literary nonfiction, providing insights into the projects he envisioned but never completed. Over the span of seven decades, McPhee has set a high standard in the genre, tackling a diverse array of subjects, from mountain ranges to dissident art in the Soviet Union. This book serves as a unique retrospective, offering a glimpse into the literary mind of a master storyteller as he revisits the ideas and profiles that lingered in his thoughts but remained unwritten.

McPhee's engaging narrative reveals the intricacies of his creative process, showcasing the breadth of his interests and the reasons certain projects were left unfinished. With a wry sense of humor, he recounts encounters with notable figures such as Thornton Wilder and Henry Luce, as well as experiences that shaped his writing journey. The anecdotes presented in Tabula Rasa not only highlight McPhee's literary prowess but also reflect on the nature of ambition and the passage of time in a writer's life.

This volume is more than just a collection of missed opportunities; it is a celebration of the writing life itself. McPhee's reflections serve as a reminder of the beauty found in unfinished work and the stories that remain untold. As he looks back from the vantage point of his desk drawer, readers are invited to explore the rich tapestry of his career, making Tabula Rasa a compelling read for fans of literary nonfiction and aspiring writers alike.