The essays in this collection are chosen by a guest editor each year, who curates what they consider to be the most significant non-fiction pieces published in American periodicals during the preceding year. This ensures a fresh perspective on contemporary writing with each new volume.
Each volume in The Best American Essays series is a standalone collection, featuring a new selection of essays from a specific year. Readers can pick up any volume without needing to have read previous editions, as they do not follow a continuous narrative or theme beyond showcasing excellent contemporary essays.