The Art of Being a Stranger: A Family Memoir by Bermann, Karen

The Art of Being a Stranger: A Family Memoir

Karen Bermann grew up in the mad orbit of her father, Fritz, the rebellious child of a...
$33.68 USD
$33.68 USD
Please hurry! Only 24 left in stock
Author: Karen Bermann
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Subtotal: $33.68

Free Shipping (Orders $99 USD or More)

The Art of Being a Stranger: A Family Memoir by Bermann, Karen

The Art of Being a Stranger: A Family Memoir

$33.68

The Art of Being a Stranger: A Family Memoir

$33.68
Author: Karen Bermann
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Karen Bermann grew up in the mad orbit of her father, Fritz, the rebellious child of a Viennese Orthodox Jewish family who fled Europe alone as an adolescent in the late 1930s. An irreverent, comic, rageful man with three names, who spoke three languages, lived on three continents, and always kept his papers in order, Fritz lived a life shaped by survival. In this memoir, told in alternating voices in brief, lyrical episodes, Bermann explores not only the mystery of her father but also the inheritance he passed on: intergenerational trauma, fragile familial bonds, and a fraught sense of belonging.
The Art of Being a Stranger is a darkly funny narrative told in poetry, prose, and mixed-media drawings. While her father taught her how to save herself, Bermann realized early on that what she truly needed was to be saved from him. Set against the backdrop of 1960s and 1970s New York City, The Art of Being a Stranger is a poignant comic-drama that offers an intimate, layered exploration of parents and children in the shadow of history.

Author: Karen Bermann
Publisher: New Jewish Press
Published: 09/23/2025
Pages: 248
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.70d
ISBN: 9781487565275

About the Author
Karen Bermann is professor emerita of architecture at Iowa State University, where she specialized in beginning design, drawing, and teaching in the Rome study abroad program. Prior to earning a bachelor of architecture at The Cooper Union, she worked on sweat equity rehabilitation on the Lower East Side in the building that first brought solar and wind energy to New York City. She has published and presented widely in academic contexts on questions of identity, memory, and place. She lives in Rome.

Returns Policy

You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).

You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).

If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the "Complete Orders" link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.

Shipping

We can ship to virtually any address in the world. Note that there are restrictions on some products, and some products cannot be shipped to international destinations.

When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.

Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.