Ross Gay

Date of Birth: August 1, 1974

Zodiac Sign: Leo

Biography

Ross Gay is an American poet, essayist, and professor, known for his deeply personal and reflective works that often explore themes of joy, love, community, and the natural world. Born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio, Gay has become a prominent voice in contemporary poetry. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Creative Writing from Lafayette College, a Master of Fine Arts in Poetry from Sarah Lawrence College, and a Ph.D. in American Literature from Temple University. Gay is the author of several acclaimed poetry collections, including “Against Which” (2006), “Bringing the Shovel Down” (2011), and “Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude” (2015), which won the 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry and the 2016 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. His work is celebrated for its vivid imagery, emotional depth, and ability to find beauty in the everyday. In addition to his poetry, Gay has published essays and nonfiction, notably the collection “The Book of Delights” (2019), a series of daily essays reflecting on the small joys of life. He is a professor of English at Indiana University Bloomington and a founding member of the Bloomington Community Orchard, a nonprofit, free-fruit-for-all food project.

5 Interesting Facts about Ross Gay

1. Ross Gay is a founding board member of the Bloomington Community Orchard, a nonprofit that promotes community engagement through sustainable agriculture and access to fresh fruit.

2. His collection “Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude” was inspired by the death of his father and the subsequent period of mourning and reflection.

3. Gay is an avid gardener and frequently incorporates themes of nature and horticulture into his works.

4. He is a recipient of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry, one of the most prestigious awards in the field.

5. Gay’s “The Book of Delights” was written as a personal challenge to write daily essays about things that brought him delight over the course of one year.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Ross Gay

1. “I often think delight is a radical act, and I want to live in a world where that kind of radicality is a given.”

2. “What you must understand, what you must believe, is that every moment of your life is a chance to be kind.”

3. “To be joyful in the face of so much is not to be blind or naive but to be courageous.”

4. “Gratitude, I have learned, is a way of being, a way of moving through the world.”

5. “The garden is a solace because it is a place where I can practice the radical act of delight.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

As a poet and academic, Ross Gay’s financial net worth is not widely publicized. However, his contributions to literature and his impact on readers and students are invaluable.