SAILING ALONE AROUND THE ROOM saved me as a reader of poetry. I had never read a lot of poetry, but I at least visited now and again. Before this book, it had been a long time since reading favorites such as Anne Sexton or Pablo Neruda. If reading poetry requires a particular muscle--I had let mine atrophy. Then I heard an interview of the author Billy Collins that included his reading some poetry. Suddenly the years of my not reading poetry that felt so insurmountable fell away. Poetry made sense to me again. I leapt upon the first book of his I could find (fortunately this one) and was amazed at his ability to be humorous one moment, incredibly touching the next and sometimes both at the same time. I can’t recommend this enough—it is accessible for people just getting into poetry but also sturdy enough for people who have read their share.