I continue my essay series, American Odd, with a look at the history of the American roadside attraction in Jim Heimann’s classic California Crazy and Beyond: Roadside Vernacular Architecture. Continue reading American Odd: California Crazy and Beyond: Roadside Vernacular Architecture, by Jim Heimann
This week I review a dictionary of political speak, a primer for what passes as political discourse in this country. Continue reading CCLaP Fridays: Dog Whistles, Walk-Backs, and Washington Handshakes: Decoding the Jargon, Slang, and Bluster of American Political Speech, by Chuck McCutcheon and David Mark
What’s the best cure for a man who hates the mountains? Send him to the mountains. What’s the best cure for a misanthrope? Send him to live with other people. Thus begins “Twenty-One Days of a Neurasthenic” by Octave Mirbeau (1848–1917). Continue reading Twenty-One Days of a Neurasthenic, by Octave Mirbeau @ NYJB
I continue my CCLaP essay series “American Odd” with “The Manson File,” by Nikolas Schreck, an anthology of poetry, prose, and art by Charles Manson. Continue reading American Odd: The Manson File, by Nikolas Schreck
his week I review Uncertain Justice: The Roberts Court and the Constitution, by Laurence Tribe and Joshua Matz, a sober look at the Roberts Court and how recent rulings have shaped modern law. Continue reading Mondays with the Supremes/CCLaP Fridays Crossover: Uncertain Justice: The Roberts Court and the Constitution, by Laurence Tribe and Joshua Matz
This week I review “A Kingdom in Crisis,” by Andrew MacGregor Marshall, a fearless expose of Thailand’s corrupt politics and looming succession crisis. Continue reading CCLaP Fridays: A Kingdom in Crisis, by Andrew MacGregor Marshall
This week I review “Cities of Empire: The British colonies and the creation of the urban world,” by Tristram Hunt. Continue reading CCLaP Fridays: Cities of Empire, by Tristram Hunt
An occasional series that is a continuation of my essay anthology, On Being Human: critical looks at books and movies that examine the question of humanity. (Buy the limited edition hardcover, Kindle version, or download it for free at the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography.) Via Orphan Black: Season 3 will be premiering on April 18, 2015 on BBC America. Below are a series of notes on Seasons 1 and 2. Due to the nature of these essays, they contain many spoilers, major and minor. If you haven’t seen the series, I would suggest watching it before reading these … Continue reading On Being Human Redux: Notes on “Orphan Black”
“One Nation Under God” sheds light on the shadowy history of political conservatism, big business, and populist fervor. Continue reading One Nation Under God: How Corporate American Invented Christian America, by Kevin M. Kruse @ NYJB
Pat Buchanan wrote a new book. It’s about Nixon’s 1968 campaign for the presidency. Continue reading The Greatest Comeback, by Patrick J. Buchanan
The Driftless Area Review 