Sloane Crosley

Sloane Crosley is the author and first person narrator of all 16 essays collected in Look Alive Out There. As a writer and humorist, Crosley embraces irony, sarcasm, and wit throughout the collection, as she presents a diverse network of stories from her personal life.

Crosley lives and works in New York City. This setting is the backdrop for the majority of Crosley’s essays. Indeed, Crosley’s life and eclectic experiences in New York define much of how she sees herself, others, and the world around her. Although Crosley often expresses frustration with living in this distinct urban environment, she also evidences a keen love for the place. When she is climbing Cotopaxi in Ecuador in “Up the Down Volcano,” for example, Crosley repeatedly mentions her desire to return to New York City. Although summer in New York is notoriously stifling, Crosley says, “I think again...