The Wreckage of My Presence: Essays

Written by Casey Wilson

Narrated by Casey Wilson

""Magnificent."" —People Magazine

The instant New York Times bestseller: Laugh-out-loud, deeply insightful, and emotion-filled essays from multitalented actress, comedian, podcaster, and writer Casey Wilson.

Casey Wilson has a lot on her mind and she isn’t afraid to share. In this dazzling collection, each essay skillfully constructed and brimming with emotion, she shares her thoughts on the joys and vagaries of modern-day womanhood and motherhood, introduces the not-quite-typical family that made her who she is, and persuasively argues that lowbrow pop culture is the perfect lens through which to examine human nature.

Whether she’s extolling the virtues of eating in bed, processing the humiliation over her father’s late in life perm, mourning her mother's passing, or revealing her patented method for keeping the mystery alive in a marriage, Casey is witty, candid, and full of poignant and funny surprises. Humorous dives into her obsessions and areas of personal expertise—self-help, nice guys, cool girls (not her) and how to receive visitors in the bath—are matched by touching meditations on female friendship, anger, grief, motherhood, and identity. 

Reading The Wreckage of My Presence is like spending time with a close friend—a deeply passionate, full-tilt, joyous, excessive, compulsive, shameless, hungry-for-it-all, loyal, cheerleading friend. A friend who is ready for any big feelings that come her way—and isn’t afraid to embrace them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: May 4, 2021
• ISBN: 9780062960603

Casey Wilson

Casey Wilson is an actress, writer, director and podcaster. Her TV acting credits include Happy Endings, Saturday Night Live, The Shrink Next Door, Marry Me, Black Monday, Mrs. Fletcher, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Her film credits include Gone Girl, Julie and Julia, and Always be My Maybe. Casey co-wrote and co-starred in the movies Bride Wars and Ass Backwards with her longtime collaborator June Diane Raphael. Alongside Danielle Schneider, she co-hosts the hit podcast Bitch Sesh. Her directorial debut, Daddio, premiered at SXSW and TIFF. Casey lives with her husband and two young sons in Los Angeles. 

Reviews for The Wreckage of My Presence

[bookwyrmm_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Entertaining essay memoirs with heart.

[Bethany Allgood · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I identified with this open and honest look into a life of a woman with a personality type that I strongly identified with. Funny, sentimental, raw, humble, flawed, all of these beautiful attributes that make a beautiful person!

[Jessica Grammon · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The greatest collection of stories for the perfect time in my life. Thank you Casey.

[Rachel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Crying by the end. I recognized many of the stories and anecdotes from the Bitch Sesh podcast, but didn't mind. Such a beautiful book by the end!

[libraryhead · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Fast and occasionally funny, but so much less that I was expecting from the "best of the year" accolades. It's another celebrity memoir, with a side of body shaming.