Books
Martha Nussbaum's review of Harvey Mansfield's book Manliness is a demonstration of what can make a book review worthwhile. She explores not just the intellectual failings of a book purported to be an intellectual work, but goes on to examine how those failings could plausibly have
Books
Most discussions in the United States about France and the French are more heat than light, which makes this enlightening book especially welcome. The authors are two Canadians who moved to France for two years (1999-2001) in order to understand how the French are different from North Americans. Some of
Books
Mark Hasty tags me as someone who reads. (It's the librarian job that tips people off, isn't it?) You’re stuck inside Fahrenheit 451, which book do you want to be? I've never read Fahrenheit 451, but I think I understand the question (didn&
Books
I have finally read Bush at War, Bob Woodward's application of his patented you-are-there-right-now technique to the workings of the Bush White House after September 11. As with all of Woodward's books, it is a compelling and breezy read. A good sign about it is that
Books
Several years ago, I read Encountering Bigotry: Befriending Projecting Persons in Everyday Life, a book that is now out of print. I came across my notes from the book, and thought they might be of interest: People make bigoted remarks because they are dealing with more emotional turmoil than they
Books
I recently read Wallace, a biography of George Wallace written by Marshall Frady (who died earlier this month). My two main reactions: 1. What a hatchet job... 2. ...but it couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
Books
I have given up on Ed Regis' book, The Info Mesa (Norton, 2003), because of the shallowness of the writing. The final straw: [page 50] "Catholics have a lot of kids" is cliché, and calling a man a "good Catholic" right after mentioning his divorce