The Big Empty: Dialogues on Politics, Sex, God, Boxing, Morality, Myth, Poker and Bad Conscience in America
A book of dialogues between Mailer and his son John Buffalo Mailer on politics, sex, God, boxing, morality, myth, poker, and bad conscience in America. Dedicated to Norris Church Mailer; some conversations had appeared in different form in 04.8, 04.15, 05.2, and a 2004 Nieman Fellows speech.
A softcover book of dialogues between Mailer and his son John Buffalo Mailer — on politics, sex, God, boxing, morality, myth, poker, and bad conscience in America — published by Nation Books and dedicated “To a lovely lady — Norris Church Mailer.” Some of the conversations had appeared in different form earlier: the New York “Rage” cover story (04.8), the Playboy exchange (04.15), the Stop Smiling boxing talk (05.2), and a speech Mailer gave to the Nieman Fellows at Harvard on 6 December 2004. Mailer: “The old notion with which I grew up was that human nature could be seen as progressive in its essence. That happy assumption is now in disrepute.”