Hernan Diaz on his new novel 'Ply' and understanding America through technology

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Hernan Diaz’s new book, Ply , takes place in a future where institutions have fallen apart. It appears to be a book about systems and community, but turns out to be one about the self. Ply ’s protagonist is a “pincher,” someone who steals electricity from the grid to sell on the black market – and this work leads her to an invention with the potential to drastically alter her reality. In today’s episode, Diaz joins NPR’s Elissa Nadworny for a discussion about understanding the United States through technology, the phenomenon of rewilding and how he ended up writing a story about selfhood. Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks…