Karin Roffman's 'The Songs We Know Best' offers an unprecedented glimpse into the early life of John Ashbery, an iconic figure of modern poetry. Chronicling the formative years that led to his poetic debut, Roffman delves into Ashbery's youth on a family farm and his eventual rise in the artistic whirlwind of 1950s New York. Through previously unseen correspondence, intimate diaries, and extensive conversations with Ashbery himself, Roffman paints a vivid portrait of a poet whose works are inseparable from the life he lived. This biography not only unearths the roots of Ashbery's enigmatic style but also celebrates the symbiosis of his existence and art, offering readers 'the experience of experience'—a central philosophy that underpins Ashbery's contributions to the literary world.