All Things Are Too Small: Essays in Praise of Excess

Becca Rothfeld argues against the prevailing cultural preference for minimalism, restraint, and tidiness. She examines how current trends in literature, interior design, and digital life prioritize "decluttering" at the expense of appetite and grandeur. Through a series of critical essays, she defends the unruly and the over-the-top, analyzing subjects ranging from the sprawling novels of Sally Rooney and Elena Ferrante to the intellectual history of eroticism and the sanitized aesthetics of modern mindfulness. Rothfeld asserts that true greatness requires a willingness to be messy, loud, and intellectually oversized.

This book serves readers who feel alienated by the sparse, clinical nature of contemporary art and social media trends. It attracts those interested in cultural criticism who prefer sharp, opinionated arguments over neutral summaries. Readers finish these essays with a renewed vocabulary for celebrating extravagance and a framework for rejecting the pressure to simplify their surroundings or their desires. The text provides a intellectual justification for choosing abundance over the scarcity demanded by modern efficiency.