The full range of human emotions
From Nova, a special episode on Mars. From Plenty, here are 10 global-warming policy recommendations for the Obama administration. An interview with Eric Wilson, author of Against Happiness: In Praise of Melancholy. Black philosopher, White academy: A review of The Career of William Fontaine by Bruce Kuklick. When Dockets imitate drama: Literature and drama have provided plenty of models for the sort of outlandish scheme that the embattled trader Bernard L. Madoff allegedly conceived. A review of Law and the Media: The Future of an Uneasy Relationship by Lieve Gies. Lives of the Saints: An article on doing relief work in dangerous places. Gorillas in their midst: Is it possible to protect Rwanda’s mountain gorillas while also helping some of its poorest citizens? Clive Crook on constraints on Obama’s soft power. The Competence Dodge: The experience and competence of Obama's economic team are not substitutes for true progressivism. Getting rich quick — and having much more money than you ever need — will look as pointless as taking bodybuilding too seriously. The Year of the Nerd: Screw the jocks and prom queens — in 2008, geeks took control of entertainment, pro sports, even the White House. Tears, tantrums and murder: Far from being a cold and rational exercise, maths can provoke the full range of human emotions.
An incredibly lonely society
A new issue of Open Letters Monthly is out. From The Believer, an interview with political philosopher Tom Dumm on how misguided American ideas of self-reliance make for an incredibly lonely society; and the sentence is a lonely place: What is it that gives every line — in certain works of fiction — the force and feel of a climax? From World Politics Review, an article on the war in Gaza: Can Israel have military success? An excerpt from Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power and a World Without Rape. Kudos for the contrarian: It is mostly people who appreciate the uncertainty of our complex world who have worthwhile things to say about the future. Two academic groups — one funded by collegiate sports' governing body — aim to provide "factual" research regarding athletic issues. Should we be wary of political dynasties? David Liebers investigates. Blockbuster or Bust: Why struggling publishers will keep placing outrageous bids on new books. Accidental astrophysicists: They started with algebra and ended up learning about gravitational lensing. More on Jay Parini's Promised Land: Thirteen Books That Changed America. Who is a civilian? The bloodied children are clearly civilians; men killed as they launch rockets are undisputedly not — but what about the 40 or so young Hamas police recruits on parade? A review of A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity by Bill O' Reilly (and more).
Pretending to be a pilot
From TAS, Peter Ferrara on Robert Nozick and liberal utopians. From TPM Media, here are ten young progressives to make you hopeful for the future. Design loves a depression: Few of the arts benefited from the late economic boom more than design, but a little austerity could give designers a new sense of relevance. Ariel Levy reviews a new edition of The Joy of Sex. Is it possible Mike Barnicle is still the most obsessed-about journalist in town? Thomas Frank on how the "market" isn't so wise after all. Tuning In: What to listen to when you're pretending to be a pilot. The commercial world, according to three new books, has a grip on our children and is trying to take the fun out of being a parent (and more). James Traub on shaking up the boardroom at World Government Inc. Mismarriage of convenience: Iran and Israel are stuck in a dysfunctional relationship that neither party can escape on its own — here’s how to break up their fight. A review of Hamas: Politics, Charity and Terrorism in the Service of Jihad by Matthew Levitt. Book publishers and booksellers are faltering, but don’t blame the recession — it’s all the fault of the Internet used books market. The Plot Curdles: A modest proposal for bailing out the publishing industry. Carlin Romano on philosophers at work, and hoping for it. At MLA, academic conference sex isn’t just for the hotel room, but for a scholarly panel.
The power of the impersonal
From The New Yorker, Adam Kirsch on Hannah Arendt and the power of the impersonal; David Remnick on history, Obama, and the Middle East; tweed wars: A historians’ scuffle at the State Department; when fraudsters go bust: while bank robbers are getting busier, the Bernard Madoffs are starting to get caught; and greening the ghetto: Can a remedy serve for both global warming and poverty? Elizabeth Kolbert investigates. From New York, a review of David Denby's Snark: It’s Mean, It’s Personal, and It’s Ruining Our Conversation. From Vanity Fair, farewell to all that: Here's an oral history of the Bush White House. From Boston Review, Dean Baker on free market myth: Regulation is everywhere — let’s choose who benefits; no new tax cuts: Jeff Madrick on a case for big government; and Robert Pollin on tools for a new economy: Proposals for a financial regulatory system. A review of Social Philosophy after Adorno by Lambert Zuidervaart. America, "Amerika": A new translation of Kafka’s unfinished first novel, set in a dream-world that is not quite America. Here's a completely subjective rundown of the most noteworthy academic research that sprung forth from academia in 2008. A review of The Reagan I Knew by William F. Buckley Jr. America is the most anxious country on the planet; so will we ever learn to live with fear, racing heart and disaster scenarios?
