His early novels such as The Mezzanine and Room Temperature were distinguished by their minute inspection of his characters' and narrators' stream of consciousness.

Baker has published articles in Harper's Magazine, the London Review of Books and The New Yorker, among other periodicals.

"[4] Baker met his wife, Margaret Brentano, in college; they live in Maine and have two grown children.

Rather than giving a traditional literary analysis, Baker begins the book by stating that he will read no more Updike than he already has up to that point.

All of the Updike quotations used are presented as coming from memory alone, and many are inaccurate, with correct versions and Baker's (later) commentary on the inaccuracies.

[8][9] Vox (1992) consists of an episode of phone sex between two young single people on a pay-per-minute chat line.

The book was Baker's first New York Times bestseller and Monica Lewinsky gave a copy to President Bill Clinton when they were having an affair.

Akin to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, people enter the House of Holes through such techniques as tumbling through a clothes dryer or through a drinking straw.

In 1997, Baker received the San Francisco–based James Madison Freedom of Information Award in recognition of these efforts.

An excerpt first appeared in the July 24, 2000, issue of The New Yorker, under the title "Deadline: The Author's Desperate Bid to Save America's Past.

[20] Auletta responded by sending a letter to the editor bemoaning what he perceived as the inaccuracy of Baker's review.

[21] Here is Baker's rebuttal: Ken Auletta wrote a thought-provoking book, and I recorded several thoughts provoked.

There is indeed an absence of warmth in this chronicle of Google as “dreaded disruptor,” but it’s an impartial chilliness, extending in all directions.