What do Martin Scorsese and a family of California farmers have in common?
Obsessions, according to author Mark Singer. Singer’s latest book, “Character Studies: Encounters with the Curiously Obsessed,” is a compilation of profiles about completely different types of people, from celebrities to magicians, united only by their abilities to be uniquely passionate.
“It’s a series of pieces about people who have obsessive preoccupations relating to what they are interested in or what they do in their work,” Singer said.
Singer is currently on a book tour to promote “Character Studies,” which was published in July. He will appear at the Norris Bookstore on Tuesday from noon to 2 p.m. and will read a selection from his book and sign copies. Singer has been a writer for The New Yorker for more than 20 years. He is the author of several other books based on his work with The New Yorker, including “Somewhere in America” and “Funny Money.”
Singer said most of the profiles in the book originated from the work he did for The New Yorker, but he compiled them in book form when he noticed the common theme in all the pieces.
“I’ve written a lot of pieces about people who would be regarded as celebrities, but I don’t like to think of them that way,” Singer said. “I prefer to write about people about whom there are no preconceptions.”
One such profile is about Ricky Jay, a magician who is particularly gifted at sleight-of-hand tricks. Another is about celebrity and real estate mogul Donald Trump and his personal dedication to his work.
“A lot of the reporting I do is not unlike cultural anthropology,” Singer said. “I go to a place where something has happened, talk to the people and write about what has happened.”
As part of his book tour, Singer is visiting several colleges and universities. He said Northwestern came to mind because of Medill, as did the University of Iowa, which has a strong nonfiction writing program.
“The event was arranged for us by the Barnes and Noble College Division,” said Linda Fish, store manager for the Norris Bookstore. “Mr. Singer was coming through here and they thought it would be a good fit because of the journalism school.”
There will be a reception for Singer at the bookstore following the reading.
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