Can Poetry Matter? (1992; 2002)
“Undoubtedly one of the most important American books of poetry criticism of the last 50 years.” — Adam Kirsch, The New York Sun

“Gioia is an engaged, thoroughgoing, enthusiastic reader, one who infuses us with his passion for poetry. If you’re an educated general reader, and you read only one book about contemporary poetry, this should be that book.” — Ray Olson, Booklist

“No one, I think, has written with greater clarity or greater poignancy—or with a greater sense of urgency, either—about the ‘subculture’ in which the art of poetry is still confined. . . . ” —Hilton Kramer, The New Criterion

“This book is destined to be a classic.” —Michael J. Bugeja, Columbus Dispatch

Interrogations at Noon (2001)
“Probably the most exquisite poet writing today in English.”
— William Oxley, Acumen (UK)

“Interrogations at Noon is Gioia’s third book of poetry and it is achingly good.” — Susan Balée, Philadelphia Inquirer

“Interrogations at Noon is the best book yet by Gioia, a poet in mid-career who deserves our praise for keeping the lyric impulse alive and well.” — Matthew Brennan, American Book Review

Gods of Winter (1991)
“In two exquisitely wrought books . . . he has already established himself as a poet with a permanent place in the canon of American poetry.” — Robert McPhillips, Verse

“In his best poems, Gioia rises to the occasion of all great poetry: to immortalize our experience by submitting it to the test of tradition and inspiration. Anyone who really wants to know the answer to the question, ‘can poetry matter?’ will find that The Gods of Winter is full of answers.” — Thomas D’ Evelyn, The Christian Science Monitor

“The Gods of Winter is an important book, if only because it exemplifies Gioia’s courageously aesthetic approach to poetry—to its language and rhythms. Fortunately for those of us who agree with him, it is also a good book. His poems are limpid, mellifluous, quotable and likely to be loved.” — Anne Stevenson, Poetry Wales

Daily Horoscope (1986)
“It would be specious to praise this volume as a first book. Gioia has given us a book that is more accomplished than recent publications by many more celebrated practitioners.” — Robert McDowell, The Hudson Review

“Daily Horoscope is a stunning first book . . . Gioia is a master of forms. He experiments with old ones, and in a few instances has taken to inventing new ones.” — Robert Phillips, Arrival

“Here we have a truly exceptional poet. In his mid-thirties, Dana Gioia can be compared to Wallace Stevens and not be routed by the comparison.” – Raymond Nelson, Virginia Quarterly Review