Read Peter Lovenheim's posts on the Penguin Blog. Based on a popular "New York Times" Op-Ed piece, this is the quirky, heartfelt account of one man's quest to meet his neighbors-and find a sense of community. Journalist and author Peter Lovenheim has lived on the same street in suburban Rochester, NY, most of his life. But it was only after a brutal murder-suicide rocked the community that he was struck by a fact of modern life in this comfortable enclave: no one knew anyone else. Thus begins Peter's search to meet and get to know his neighbors. An inquisitive person, he does more than just introduce himself. He asks, ever so politely, if he can sleep over. In this smart, engaging, and deeply felt book, Lovenheim takes readers inside the homes, minds, and hearts of his neighbors and asks a thought-provoking question: do neighborhoods matter-and is something lost when we live among strangers?

Author Biography

Peter Lovenheim is a journalist whose articles and essays have appeared in the "New York Times, USA Today, New York" magazine, and other publications. He teaches writing at Rochester Institute of Technology and is also the author of "Portrait of a Burger as a Young Calf," a firsthand attempt to understand the food chain, and other books. He lives in Brighton, New York, a suburb of Rochester.