Phil Christman is one of the best essayists in America. . . . [H]e is unafraid to reject the portions of a position that do not withstand scrutiny, and his largely left-wing conclusions are the product of careful and humane self-searching. --Becca Rothfeld, TLS

Erudite riffs on race, religion, masculinity, and other contentious subjects...A crisp set of essays that bring big social and cultural debates to a human level. -- Kirkus Reviews

A probing and provocative collection. --Publishers Weekly

Christman presents essays on a variety of topics ranging from race and masculinity to religion and pop culture, all written in the tone of a subversive self-help guide. Engaging a belles-lettristic negative capability, Christman takes on the big subjects while always remembering that the point of criticism is to more fully be a person, part of 'our little attempts that we make at building a home in this world.' --Ed Simon, The Millions

In a host of grimly besieged arenas of public life, from religion and race to mass culture and masculinity, Christman charts a frank and fearless guide for the perplexed, the battered, the exhausted, and the outraged. --Chris Lehmann, The New Republic

Mr. Christman titles the collection and each of the essays with the 'How to' format, but he points out in an author's note that this is not an advice manual. Rather, he takes on a subject and examines the generalizations and shibboleths clinging to it, puncturing them with personal experience and his intellect--and with considerable research to back them up. . . . Throughout How to Be Normal, the voice is earnest and intense, often spiraling around a subject. . . . But as for the promise of comfort suggested by the title of this book, Mr. Christman has some disappointing news: 'There is no normal to get back to anymore.' --Richard Babcock, Wall Street Journal