Review: Olivia Nuzzi's 'American Canto' and its portrayal of her affair with RFK Jr.
Olivia Nuzzi's memoir, American Canto, is a complex work that blends memoir, political analysis, and a plea for Nuzzi to be recognized seriously as a writer and thinker. Arwa Mahdawi's review in The Guardian examines how the book addresses Nuzzi's affair with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., concluding that while the relationship is referenced, it offers little new information about RFK Jr. and tends to over-intellectualize the affair.
The memoir also touches on Nuzzi's experience as a young, attractive female journalist facing misogyny, but the reviewer notes these themes are underexplored. Notable anecdotes include Donald Trump's contrasting remarks praising and then insulting Nuzzi's looks, as well as a Washington DC party incident involving Maureen Dowd and a movie star discussing being "rapeable."
However, the book contains lengthy digressions on unrelated subjects such as Madeleine Ruthven, McCarthy-era references, geology, and Nietzsche, which are described as insufferable filler that detracts from the core narrative. When finally addressing the affair in detail, the memoir focuses mainly on public perception and media narratives about RFK Jr., rather than offering substantive insight.
Mahdawi suggests that while American Canto has strong foundational material for a compelling book, its current form is hindered by self-seriousness and excessive filler. The memoir is published by Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster and is priced at £20.
