Diary, Must Know
In college I had the privilege of taking a yearlong reading and writing course that picked a new theme every quarter. In the first term we read books and wrote essays on the idea of love going back all the way to Plato’s Symposium. Although I was fully able to articlulate Plato’s view of love, I emotionally did not understand what Plato was talking about. I wish the review article “Fidelity With a Wandering Eye ” by Christina Nehring had been on our reading list. Nehring is deeply informed, her language is clear, and its a pleasure to follow her guided tour. See for yourself by clicking on the “More” button.Love and Passion Reconsidered
Diary, Astute Observations
David Brooks fills the role of William Safir as the conversative op-ed columnist in the NY Times. I often don’t agree with his columns but today he is written one that is right on the money about educational segregation. Karl’s New Manifesto By DAVID BROOKS (NYT)A Conservative Columnist updates Karl Marx
I was in the library reading room when suddenly a strange specter of a man appeared above me. He was a ragged fellow with a bushy beard, dressed in the clothes of another century. He clutched news clippings on class in America, and atop the pile was a manifesto in his own hand. He was gone in an instant, but Karl’s manifesto on modern America remained. This is what it said:
Diary, Must Know
Sometimes one piece of writing changes one mind. Until today I thought that talk therapy was utterly discredited. But there appears to be strong evidence that a skilled therapist can help the brain to change its relationship to the world. Depression From The Economist print edition (Apr 14th 2005) FOR almost a century after Sigmund Freud pioneered psychoanalysis,Talk is cheap but surprisingly effective
Diary
Saul Bellow had to die before I would pay any attention to him. I read today’s obituary in the New York Times (click on “more” button) and immediately realized that I should put some of his novels on my summer reading list. I just ordered myself a copy of The Adventures of Augie March, Henderson the Rain King, and Humboldts’ Gift. The New York Times has a special web feature on the work of Bellow. There is also an interesting obituary note in Slate. His editor shares most interesting memories of how Bellow worked. Other writers comment on Below’s influence.Welcome to the Afterlife of Saul Bellow
Diary
I started to read Peter Pan. The last time that I came into contact with the characters of the story was in the movie Hook, which invented a sequel to the original Peter Pan. I have not heard about the plot of the original story since childhood and almost completely forgotten it. Reading the book today, therefore, is just like reading a new story. It starts in the most delightful way: All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this. One day when she was two years old she was playing in a garden, and she plucked another flower and ran with it to her mother. I suppose she must have looked rather delightful, for Mrs Darling put her hand to her heart and cried,Peter Pan
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