Pain won't kill you - Farther Away

It is late at night, but I feel I need to summarise what I have learnt here, before moving on.
Jonathan Franzen shines a spotlight on how we are coping in this life. Which includes scrutiny of his own weaknesses, distractions and obsessions.
I was most enthralled when he let lose on his friendship with David Wallace Foster, and his encounters with bird life.
The opening essay 'Pain won't kill you' has the type of analysis and sardonic wit that makes this a real find.