But in this case, they're deliberate. Vintage's trade paperback edition of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius features an unusual addendum—printed upside down at the back of the book is "Mistakes We Knew We Were Making," which includes "Notes, Corrections, Clarifications, Apologies, Addenda." In addition, the new edition sports three different back covers: one with type and design, one with author Dave Eggers and his brother, Toph, and one showing Toph as a youngster. The book's hardcover publication (Simon & Schuster, Feb. 2000) was greeted with such critical hosannas as "a virtuosic piece of writing," "utterly unforgettable," "scathingly perceptive and hysterically funny," etc. The unique memoir became one of the year's literary sensations; it spent nine weeks on PW 's list and was selected by the New York Times as one of its Editors' Choice Ten Best Books of the Year. (It also appeared on the "Year's Best" lists of many other national publications.) Beginning March 21, Eggers will be touring for a month, with readings and signings set for libraries and colleges, plus numerous bookstore appearances. Vintage's 225,000-copy first printing was supplemented with 25,000 before the February 13 on-sale date and another 50,000 immediately after that. Staggering, indeed.
With reporting by Dick Donahue.
