Hogs Wild: Selected Reporting Pieces

Hogs Wild collects Ian Frazier's reporting pieces from The New Yorker and other publications over several decades. The essays cover topics ranging from feral hogs in America to hidden spaces in New York City to the lives of homeless people. Frazier travels across the United States to investigate invasive species, infrastructural challenges, environmental issues, and human interest stories. His reporting style combines factual journalism with personal observations and conversations with experts, locals, and people living on society's margins. The pieces move between urban and rural settings, examining how humans interact with and impact their environments. Notable subjects include the Asian carp invasion of American waterways, the complexities of subway tunnel maintenance, and communities dealing with sudden ecological changes. The collection reveals patterns in how modern American society grapples with unintended consequences and attempts to maintain control over both natural and built environments. Through varied subjects, Frazier documents the ongoing tension between order and chaos in contemporary life.

Readers note Frazier's ability to find compelling stories in unexpected places, particularly appreciating his pieces on feral hogs and urban exploration. Many highlight his attention to detail and research depth. Liked: - Clear, engaging writing style - Mix of humor and serious journalism - Deep dive into niche topics - Personal perspective in reporting Disliked: - Some essays feel dated - Collection lacks cohesive theme - Variable quality between pieces - Several readers found certain articles too long Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (48 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (22 reviews) One reader on Goodreads wrote: "His piece on NYC rats taught me more than any other article I've read on the subject." An Amazon reviewer noted: "The hog article alone is worth the price." Multiple reviewers mentioned that while individual pieces shine, the collection as a whole feels uneven, with one stating "some articles could have been left out without losing anything."

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🔹 The book's title piece "Hogs Wild" explores the growing problem of feral pigs in America, which cause an estimated $1.5 billion in damage annually and are now present in at least 39 states. 🔹 Author Ian Frazier has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1974 and is known for combining deep reporting with a distinctive comic sensibility. 🔹 Several essays in the collection focus on New York City's hidden spaces and overlooked communities, including the network of homeless people living in abandoned train tunnels. 🔹 Frazier spent extensive time researching Siberia for his earlier work "Travels in Siberia," and this background enriches his pieces about Russian immigrants in Brooklyn featured in "Hogs Wild." 🔹 The book showcases Frazier's signature style of finding profound meaning in seemingly ordinary subjects, from plastic bags caught in trees to the peculiar charm of Staten Island.