--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The book that is the closest genetically…" description: "\"The book that is the closest genetically to 'Goon Squad' is 'Look at Me.' It has the futuristic element - although, freakishly, almost every aspect I i..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/jennifer-egan-825_about_the-book-that-is-the-closest-genetically_752240.jpg" --- # The book that is the closest genetically to 'Goon Squad'… ![“The book that is the closest genetically to 'Goon Squad' is 'Look at Me.' It has the futuristic element - although, freakishly, almost every aspect I invented has come to pass in some way, including the terrorist who fantasies about blowing up the World Trade Centre. That was extremely…” quote by Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/jennifer-egan-825_about_the-book-that-is-the-closest-genetically_752240.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/jennifer-egan-825_about_the-book-that-is-the-closest-genetically_752240.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/jennifer-egan-825_about_the-book-that-is-the-closest-genetically_752240.jpg) > “The book that is the closest genetically to 'Goon Squad' is 'Look at Me.' It has the futuristic element - although, freakishly, almost every aspect I invented has come to pass in some way, including the terrorist who fantasies about blowing up the World Trade Centre. That was extremely uncomfortable. The book came out on the week of 9/11.” [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author reflects on an eerie coincidence where a fictional story predicted real events, highlighting discomfort with unintended foresight. **In simple terms:** A novel unintentionally predicted future tragedies. Key Takeaway Consider the impact of imagination on reality. Themes prediction coincidence discomfort fiction vs reality Mood uneasy reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - writing - future studies - terrorism analysis Key Concepts foreshadowing creative responsibility unintended prophecy Questions to Reflect On - How do creators handle unintended predictions? - Should art be cautious about depicting violent scenarios? A Different Perspective Fiction cannot control real outcomes; coincidences may be overinterpreted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Fantasies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasies/) [Futuristic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/futuristic/) [Goon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goon/) [Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade/) [Uncomfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncomfortable/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) [World trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-trade/) ## Related quotes > [Goon Squad' took about three years to write and that's the short end. My second novel, 'Look at Me,' took six years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/goon-squad-took-about-three-years-to-write-and-that-s-the-short-end/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Proust, my big inspiration for 'Goon Squad,' uses music a lot in his novel, both in terms of plot and structure. I liked the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/proust-my-big-inspiration-for-goon-squad-uses-music-a-lot-in-his/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [In the case of 'Goon Squad,' which sold slowly for a long time despite the good reviews, those 'best of 2010' lists were pivotal,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/in-the-case-of-goon-squad-which-sold-slowly-for-a-long-time-despite/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I knew as far back as 2001 that I would write a book called 'A Visit From the Goon Squad,' though I had no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-knew-as-far-back-as-2001-that-i-would-write-a-book-called-a-visit/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [“time's a goon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/time-s-a-goon/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [“Time's a goon right?You gonna let that goon push you around?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/time-s-a-goon-right-you-gonna-let-that-goon-push-you-around/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [“Time’s a goon, right? Isn’t that the expression?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/time-s-a-goon-right-isn-t-that-the-expression/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Oooh, fashion, we are the goon squad and were coming to town, beep beep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/oooh-fashion-we-are-the-goon-squad-and-were-coming-to-town-beep-beep/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We don't want no problems, okay your a goon but what's a goon to a Gobin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/we-don-t-want-no-problems-okay-your-a-goon-but-what-s-a-goon-to-a/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [We don't want no problems. Okay you're a goon, but what's a goon to a goblin?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/we-don-t-want-no-problems-okay-you-re-a-goon-but-what-s-a-goon-to-a/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [I'm a dirty south goon - damn right, I ain't no West coast gangster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-masvidal/i-m-a-dirty-south-goon-damn-right-i-ain-t-no-west-coast-gangster/) [Jorge Masvidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-masvidal/) > [“Every single person is a fool, insane, a failure, or a bad person to at least ten people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/every-single-person-is-a-fool-insane-a-failure-or-a-bad-person-to-at/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Ok you're a goon but what's a goon to a goblin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/ok-you-re-a-goon-but-what-s-a-goon-to-a-goblin/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [“The thing is, if you're an ugly goon when you're 15, you're an ugly goon for the rest of your life — until the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-handler/the-thing-is-if-you-re-an-ugly-goon-when-you-re-15-you-re-an-ugly/) David Handler > [Gudda is real fuckin goon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gudda-gudda/gudda-is-real-fuckin-goon/) [Gudda Gudda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gudda-gudda/) ## More by Jennifer Egan > [“Behind the desk was nothing but view-the whole city flung out in front of us the way street vendors fling out their towels packed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/behind-the-desk-was-nothing-but-view-the-whole-city-flung-out-in/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I just think that, for my particular personality, feeling slightly invisible is always a help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-just-think-that-for-my-particular-personality-feeling-slightly/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Between books, I have to throw out everything I did before, because the tools I've used to write the previous book will not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/between-books-i-have-to-throw-out-everything-i-did-before-because-the/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [As a reader and a writer, I'm happiest when apparently mutually exclusive states can somehow coexist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/as-a-reader-and-a-writer-i-m-happiest-when-apparently-mutually/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I teach intermittently, and while I enjoy it, I don't find that it's a calling for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-teach-intermittently-and-while-i-enjoy-it-i-don-t-find-that-it-s-a/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Like all failed experiments, that one taught me something I didn’t expect: one key ingredient of so-called experience is the delusional faith that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/like-all-failed-experiments-that-one-taught-me-something-i-didn-t/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [“Thousands of solar panels lift and tilt at the same time, in the same way. I clutch at Dad's arm: "Why are they doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/thousands-of-solar-panels-lift-and-tilt-at-the-same-time-in-the-same/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [It was the hat. He looked sweet in the hat. How could a man in a fuzzy blue hat have used human bones to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/it-was-the-hat-he-looked-sweet-in-the-hat-how-could-a-man-in-a-fuzzy/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I was a stepchild in two different families. The hardest thing about being a stepchild is you know that in some way everything would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-was-a-stepchild-in-two-different-families-the-hardest-thing-about/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [“The seconds pass. I know what’s going on because it’s the same thing that always happens: give me something nice, something I love or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/the-seconds-pass-i-know-what-s-going-on-because-it-s-the-same-thing/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I had this idea that I could hire myself out as a person to go on archeological digs and dig, without any training! I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-had-this-idea-that-i-could-hire-myself-out-as-a-person-to-go-on/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [At night, the house thick with sleep, she would peer out her bedroom window at the trees and sky and feel the presence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/at-night-the-house-thick-with-sleep-she-would-peer-out-her-bedroom/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I number my drafts, and by the time a book is done, I'll have 75 or 80 drafts of some sections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-number-my-drafts-and-by-the-time-a-book-is-done-i-ll-have-75-or-80/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [Read at the level at which you want to write. Reading is the nourishment that feeds the kind of writing you want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/read-at-the-level-at-which-you-want-to-write-reading-is-the/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) > [I was a stepchild in two different families. The hardest thing about being a stepchild is you know that in some way everything would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-egan/i-was-a-stepchild-in-two-different-families-the-hardest-thing-about-2/) [Jennifer Egan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) [Explore all 358 Jennifer Egan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-egan/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/) [Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/) > [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/) [John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/) > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) Browse all 26,122 About quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The book that is the closest genetically to 'Goon Squad' is 'Look at Me.' It has the futuristic element - although, freakishly, almost every aspect I invented has come to pass in some way, including the terrorist who fantasies about blowing up the World Trade Centre. That was extremely uncomfortable. 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