The ability to re-read long novels might not seem directly relevant to our current political dysfunction, but neuroscientist Maryanne Wolf (Proust and the Squid) makes a strong case that it is in her new book, Reader, Come Home, which I wrote about for The Washington Post: “She makes a sound case that if we don’t protect… Continue reading »
Archives for Uncategorized
Dying of Exposure
In 2003, I wrote a spirited–some would say snarky–op-ed for the Washington Post. Headlined “It’s a Little Too cozy in the Blogosphere,” it called out what I saw as excessive chumminess and logrolling in the then-new literary blogosphere. I took some heat from members of said blogosphere, some of whom forgave me and went on… Continue reading »
Digital Rabbitholes
How do we get anything done? Honestly. This morning’s rabbithole: Saw intriguing album cover posted on friend’s Instagram account. Searched for album on iTunes. Got frustrated (we’re so spoiled now) when iTunes failed to deliver. Googled artist/album. Found artist on SoundCloud. Turned up album after several searches. Prompted to listen via SoundCloud app. Had to… Continue reading »
Best in Show 2017
Happy 2018. We’re still here, aren’t we, and that’s something, the way the world’s going. Kudos to us all for hanging in there. At year’s end/beginning, I’ve seen a number of journalists doing “My year in stories” roundups. I considered that–I wrote a lot of stories this year!–but am not sure I have the energy… Continue reading »
Six Degrees of Voltaire
American culture loves results and products–“deliverables,” to borrow current managerial parlance. (“Deliverables” is the latest entry in my ever-expanding dictionary of the buzzwords that have taken over our working lives.) When time and money are on the line, the final question tends to be “What do you have to show for that?” That attitude puts humanities research… Continue reading »