Ocean Vuong Sees Himself More As A Teacher Than A Writer
Ocean Vuong Sees Himself More As A Teacher Than A Writer  
Podcast: Fresh Air
Published On: Fri Jun 06 2025
Description: Poet and novelist Ocean Vuong joins us to discuss his new novel, The Emperor of Gladness. Set in a fictional small town in Connecticut, it follows a 19-year-old grappling with addiction and despair, who forms an unexpected bond with an 82-year-old widow living with dementia. Together, they navigate memory and survival. He also talks about teaching and why he's put an end date on the number of books he'll write in his lifetime.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy