Davy Rothbart has made a name for himself collecting mementos of people’s private lives so, when it came time for him to lay out his own personal life, he went for broke.
Rothbart, the founder of cult favorite Found Magazine, is touring in support of his new book, “My Heart is an Idiot,” a collection of essays that fall into two categories: stories about him behaving outlandishly and stories about others doing the same.
“If anyone doesn’t look good in these stories, it’s me,” said Rothbart, who has spent the past 10 years curating private notes and photos in Found.
For as long as he has been publishing the magazine, Rothbart has also been touring the country to show off the material, and has met plenty of interesting fans eager to share their own private joys and heartaches.
“You already have a connection when you meet,” said Rothbart. “People have told me some really personal stuff. I like that rather than small talk.”
The book tells some hilarious stories, including one about the time Rothbart planned to attack a hack literary agent with urine, another confessing that he used to make fun of his deaf mom, and another about his adventure getting picked up hitchhiking by a family hauling an arsenal of weapons. Throughout the narrative, Rothbart comes across as endearing and passionate, if a little impetuous and a lot like a jerk.
Rothbart plans to read from his essays and introduce a new batch of found objects at a Wednesday reading at PowerHouse Arena in Dumbo.
Davy Rothbart reads from “My Heart is an Idiot” and Found Magazine [PowerHouse Arena, 37 Main St. at Water Street in Dumbo www.myheartisanidiotbook.com]. Sept. 25th, 7 pm, free.
