In 2008, shortly after they had met in Australia, J. M. Coetzee wrote to Paul Auster in New York, offering to engage in a correspondence. Until 2011, they candidly debated the state of the world: from tennis to fatherhood, from erotic attraction to financial crises, from weddings to love. They thoughtfully reflect on our present and provide the reader with insights into their lives and an unguarded portrait of their friendship in their sometimes exuberant letters. They also explain why it is sometimes better to rake leaves than to read novels.