The best American essays 2007

Foreword / Robert Atwan

Introduction: deciderization 2007

a special report /

David Foster Wallace

Werner / Jo Ann Beard

The freedom to offend / Ian Burma

Iraq: the war of the imagination / Mark Danner

Fathead's hard times / W.S. Di Piero

An orgy of power / George Gessert

What the dog saw / Malcolm Gladwell

Afternoon of the sex children / Mark Greif

Operation Gomorrah / Marione Ingram

Loaded / Garret Keizer

Petrified / John Lahr

Name that tone / Louis Menand

Shakers / Daniel Orozco

Out from Xanadu / Cynthia Ozick

Passion flowers in winter / Molly Peacock

In the Mosque of Imam Ali / Phillip Robertson

Disappointment / Richard Rodriguez

Rules of Engagement / Elaine Scarry

A carnivore's credo / Roger Scruton

What should a billionaire give

and what should you? /

Peter Singer

Dragon slayers / Jerald Walker

Apocalypse now / Edward O. Wilson

Contributor's notes

Notable essays of 2006.