Anyone can write better. Anne Lamott shows us how again, this time with her 'current husband'

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On the ShelfGood Writing: 36 Ways to Improve Your Sentences By Neal Allen and Anne Lamott Avery: 208 pages, $27If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores.They’re so darn cute together, these two.Neal Allen, father of four, newspaper reporter turned corporate executive turned spiritual coach turned author of two spiritual guidebooks, stands a full head of hair taller than his dread-headed wife, who calls him her “current husband.” He calls her his “remarkable and beautiful partner” and himself “Mr.

Anne Lamott.”And no wonder.Author Anne Lamott has published 21 books, with worldwide sales in the millions.

“Bird by Bird,” her 1994 writing handbook, which has sold more than 1 million copies and continues to sell approximately 40,000 copies each year, became a meme before there were memes.Thirty-two years later, the titular phrase has made appearances everywhere from “Ted Lasso” (Coach Beard: “I hate losing.” Coach Lasso: “Bird by bird, Coach.”) to a Gloria Steinem interview in Cosmopolitan (“Every writer, truth-seeker, parent, and activist I know is in love with one or more books by Anne Lamott”).Ask a famous writer how they do what they do, and “Bird by Bird” will likely get honorable mention.

Harlan Coben, whose 35 novels have sold roughly 90 million copies, calls “Bird by Bird” his “favorite writing manual.” “I use it like a coach’s halftime speech to get me fired up to write.” Books Looking for your next great read? We asked critics, authors and literary folks about town to share books they’re most excited for in 2026.Featuring new works by Tayari Jones, Claudia Rankine, Jesmyn Ward, T.C.

Boyle, Douglas Stuart and more.In a 2007 interview, “Eat Pray Love” author Elizabeth Gilbert called herself Lamott’s “literary offspring.” Pa...