Variations of similar human tensions unite the twelve stories in this collection. In each, at least one character stands out as mastering one or more measure of significance—wealth, talent, success, fame. The people stand out when compared with the American population in general. They live in upscale communities, enjoy affluent lifestyles, thrive in prestigious careers, attend competitive prep schools and top level colleges. Anyone driving through their neighborhoods or attending their social events would be envious. Yet some in those upscale communities are not satisfied with their own lives. In the stories often the most seemingly privileged, apparently at the top in the eyes of others, are most unfulfilled.
Name isn’t a manifesto for a new world, but it’s all the more effective as a work of demolition that makes new manifestos possible.
A lecture, like a poem, can traverse a great distance in a short span. There are, in total, three lectures contained within The Unsignificant. What begins the book is an inquiry—not an answer. Reddy’s questioning allows us to connect his exploration of art to what we want from art and art’s relevance to our experiences. Always curious about how the artist influences us, Reddy directs us to the background in the first lecture, and we find ourselves in this space—the space any poet feels compelled to inspect.