To call Michael Paterniti an essayist undermines the power of his stories. Framed as literary journalism, Love and Other Ways of Dying is a collection of essays published in Esquire, GQ, Harper’s, and more. Whether the stories included here are true or not is irrelevant, because they are simply terrific.

Paterniti uncovers truth and light within desperate circumstances. His humor is empathic, his curiosity genuine and far-reaching. The essays take the reader to locations around the globe and into the lives of quite varied characters. The less than savory characters are lifted with compassion as they search for truth. More than anything, Paterniti’s essays are beautifully humane.

Since these essays are all previously published, there is not a filler entry throughout the collection. What’s remarkable is the cohesiveness of the 17 stories and their cumulative effect when pulled together. Powerful.