Heroes
The idea of heroes or idols is a key motif of this text. Lethem shares that most of his heroes are "partly or entirely out of print," and tells us that he particularly admires creative people such as Shirley Jackson and John Cassavetes.
Plagiarism
In one of his essays, Lethem reframes the idea of plagiarism, stating that every creative person is inspired by previous artistic creations. Here, rather than symbolizing a failure of artistic integrity, Lethem depicts plagiarism as being the basis of "all human utterances."
Shirley Jackson
The writer Shirley Jackson is mentioned often in this text and is praised for her achievements as a writer. For Lethem, Jackson's works symbolize great writing.
Entertainment
Another key motif of this text is the idea of entertainment, and what it constitutes. Lethem offers a critical view of various works of literature and film in this collection, spanning everything from the elusive horror writer Shirley Jackson to Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy.
Batman
Although Lethem does praise many artistic achievements in the text, he offers a critical view of The Dark Knight. He argues that Batman is a "taciturn and self-pitying vigilante," suggesting this superhero does not deserve the symbolic and esteemed praise he receives from fans.
