It's hard to do an author biography well. This one is a bit heavy on history and context, and focuses single-mindedly on Steinbeck, leaving the reader wondering about what happened to the other people we've come to care about in the narrative, such as his wives, children, and friends. For Steinbeck fans, this bio might be a disappointment because it reveals unlikable things about his character. For others, it might be more information than is needed. So perhaps the audience most benefited by this book would be students or researchers, as the notes and bibliography are quite comprehensive.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Mad At The World is going on my shelf next to my copies of East Of Eden and The Journal of a Novel - The East of Eden Letters. William Souder's writing is stellar - the journey through John Steinbeck's life is vividly documented and fascinated me. I really appreciated the conversational writing style as well as the incredibly three dimensional descriptions and settings. Mr. Souder's disciplined research is evident throughout. Mad At The World is a compelling read, both for the story of the man and the times. A definite book discussion selection.
4.0 I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

Writers will love this biography even if they are not ardent Steinbeck fans. The studied insights into Steinbeck’s pursuit of his own writing success do not convey any sort of blueprint for achieving the New York Time’s bestseller list but rather demonstrate how a doggedly stubborn individual with an ego inflated enough to fall back upon when kicked in the gut and psyche and a willingness to suffer isolation and penury might, if the stars align, achieve the kind of writing stature he or she wants to achieve. The ingredient list might without too much effort be construed as demanding: a combination of dire circumstances afflicting an entire populace in a specific widespread part of the country might be considered as necessary as beef in Beef Wellington, and to report on that situation and show any level of empathy would turn one into a symbol of compassion. Possessing a popularly approved gender and race during a given era, and roping in an unrecognized lover/editor/typist who can give the useful, sensitive feedback are also essential ingredients. Having parents who are supportive, both financially and emotionally, also figure into the chances of a good launch for such an aspirant.


There were many elements that made this biography special for me, foremost being the author. This book could have been a boring chronicle of successes if not for William Souder’s nuanced evaluation of the circumstances and people in Steinbeck’s life. He is a writer’s writer, and makes reflections that will resonate with anyone who has ever thought about writing. Souder’s total immersion in all things Steinbeck is persuasive, so that the reader feels trusting of the author’s comments regarding all three wives and his many friends, which comments are made without damning anyone nor indeed Steinbeck. Souder keeps his distance, conveys his respect and fascination and shows without telling so that his conclusions become our own. It is a stupendous feat.

Finally, for a resident of California who lives a stone’s throw from many places that were part of Steinbeck’s early formation and his later life, I found Mad at the World (who isn’t, especially today?) a travel itinerary I intend to retrace with eyes wide open. No longer will I race from Salinas to Pacific Grove thoughtlessly, not now that I realize it took the Steinbeck family a whole day to travel the distance to their summer (Pacific Grove) vacation spot!

Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free digital galley of this book in exchange for feedback.

There was a need for a biography of John Steinbeck in the world, and this is a book that will be useful for readers of Steinbeck. I chose it hoping to get answers to a few questions about the author that came up while I was reading his early work, and it was helpful to me in getting those answers.

All right, mostly what I learned is that I don't much like Steinbeck personally, which might explain why I sometimes am drawn in by the high quality of his writing, and sometimes find myself put off by his work in ways I can't put my finger on. Possible solution: if this guy were at a party I was attending, I would do my best to be on the other side of the room, talking to someone else.

But that's useful information, and reading this book will tell you what you need to know about Steinbeck and his life, which is, I think, the point of a biography.