I’ve been slowly but steadily making my way through my husband’s vast collection of John McPhee‘s books, so it was nice to see this article about him in the Globe. His 1999 Pulitzer Prize was labeled “richly deserved” and “long overdue.” You emerge from his non-fiction understanding the appreciation he has for his subject matter, not feeling that it was a chore of any sort for him to clearly and pleasantly relate the facts and personalities he encountered. You can feel his enjoyment in putting together the words. His wit comes out of nowhere to surprise you in the midst of the breadth of information he has distilled for you. You imagine that when he interviews his subjects it is less of a question and answer and more of a conversation between two enthusiasts. And the best part is that he is willing to pass along his tricks of the trade to others in his classes at Princeton.