The Moment

From the creators of Six-Word Memoirs comes The Moment, a collection of personal stories from writers both famous and obscure revealing how a single instant changed their lives forever. An innocuous decision, an unforeseen accident, a chance conversation, a tag sale, a terrorist strike, a tweet . . . sometimes all it takes is a single moment to redirect the course of an entire life. In the tradition of Smith magazine’s Not Quite What I Was Planning and the sensational Six-Word Memoirs on Love & Heartbreak—and in the spirit of StoryCorps, the Moth, and This American Life—The Moment unveils everyday people’s inner lives in narratives of all shapes and sizes, with stories from six to 1,000 words, photographs, comics, illustrations, handwritten letters, and more. It’s enough to change your life forever.

This collection of true, unforgettable stories captures the wild, poignant, and life-changing moments that define a life:

• Famous & Obscure Voices: Read never-before-published work from beloved authors like Dave Eggers, Elizabeth Gilbert, and Jennifer Egan alongside raw, powerful true stories from everyday people.
• A Wide Range of Formats: Experience these turning points through short essays, flash nonfiction, photographs, comics, and even handwritten letters.
• Inspirational True Stories: From a firefighter facing a deadly flashover to a woman who forgives the man she wrongfully sent to prison, these accounts reveal the resilience of the human spirit.
• For Fans of The Moth: If you love the authentic, intimate storytelling of The Moth, StoryCorps, and This American Life, you’ll find a new favorite collection here.