Whatever you call it - memoir, personal essay, biography, life stories - there is insatiable hunger for the stories of real people facing impossible odds, or dealing with the mundanity of life. Such is Life showcases many such tales, and explores the way these narratives help us make sense of the world, despite conflicts about privacy, truth and perspective. Some of the hunger for these stories comes from social networking, which makes connection easier and constant. Is this a culture that welcomes difference, or one that that threatens to reduce identity to formulaic 'likes' and consumer profiling? The best personal stories provide insights but sometimes at considerable cost. With contributions from Australia's leading writers, this edition of Griffith Review features memoir, essays and fiction that investigate how we understand ourselves, each other and the web of life surrounding us.