Best Of: Actor Amanda Peet / Re-examining Toni Morrison

Actor and writer Amanda Peet navigates the intersection of professional aging, personal health crises, and the complexities of motherhood. Reflecting on her role in *Fantasy Life*, she examines the industry's narrow expectations for women and the psychological toll of aging in the public eye. This dialogue extends to her recent experience with a breast cancer diagnosis occurring simultaneously with the decline of both parents, highlighting how writing served as a vital tool for processing grief and uncertainty. The conversation also features Harvard professor Namwali Serpell, who challenges the "sanctification" of Toni Morrison, arguing that the author’s iconic status often obscures the radical brilliance of her prose. Serpell emphasizes Morrison’s commitment to centering blackness as a default, rather than a subject requiring translation, and explores the profound, often overlooked emotional depth within works like *Sula*.