Pinker has a quite good article in the NY Times.
There isn’t too much new there, but it offers a good overview of some of the ideas of Moral Psychology and relates them to issues of the environment at the end.
I’m glad that he brings up Peter Singer’s idea of the expanding circle of reciprocal trust [...]
Posted on January 15th, 2008 by Ned
Filed under: Books, Ethics & Morality, Philosophical | 3 Comments »
I just finished the book Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson. I know, Shotts, you had recommended it to me a while ago, and my mother had suggested it before that even. It seems you both know what I will appreciate, certainly in this case.
It really is difficult for me to describe how much reading that book [...]
Posted on January 12th, 2008 by Ned
Filed under: Art, Books | 2 Comments »
I’m wondering why I am posting this, but for some reason feel compelled. Since I have been on the couch or in bed lately, I managed to read a bit.
I just finished The Dream Life of Shukhanov by Olga Grushin. It was a terribly engaging book that takes place in real time over three [...]
Posted on January 9th, 2008 by Ned
Filed under: Art, Books, Ethics & Morality, Philosophical | 7 Comments »
Thanks Ned for posting the Story of Stuff. I think that it is largely preaching to the choir (with emphasis on “preach”) on this blog but still it is good to know that there are people out there fighting the good fight. I’ve been thinking about these issues over the last few days. [...]
Posted on January 8th, 2008 by J.E.
Filed under: Books, Philosophical, Science | 5 Comments »
For reasons known to all of you, 2007 was a year in which I read very few books (though I shouldn’t feel too bad as I’m sure I read about 1000% more the national average.) Anyway here’s my rundown.
The View From the Center of the Universe by Joel Primack and Nancy Abrams may be [...]
Posted on January 3rd, 2008 by J.E.
Filed under: Books | 3 Comments »
Happy holidays to all! Be safe, merry, and joyous, and accept good intentions for the New Year and for seeing you all in 2008.
Jen and I will be at her parents’ home for a couple of days over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, then will be enjoying some restful days here in Minneapolis. We have [...]
Posted on December 21st, 2007 by Shotts
Filed under: Art, Beginnings & Endings, Books, Family, Holidays, Movies, Music | 7 Comments »
If you have not read Out Stealing Horses I strongly urge you to pick it up. You have already purchased it right?
I have always enjoyed Scandinavian literature. Many Scandinavian authors share a preoccupation with the formation of the self in the early years of life — a preoccupation we Hollow Men seem to [...]
Posted on November 13th, 2007 by J.E.
Filed under: Books, Hollow Men | 9 Comments »
Sara and I had our only date in five months tonight. We ate dinner and saw HP and the Order. It was of course my choice of movie, but she enjoyed it almost as much as I did. We both liked it.
I recently read an article which talked about Rowling’s insistence that the themes and [...]
Posted on August 16th, 2007 by Ned
Filed under: Books, Ethics & Morality, Movies, Quotes | 2 Comments »
I have this afternoon finished the final installment in the Harry Potter series. I have spent the last seven weeks with Harry Potter, from Book 1 to Book 7. Honestly, while I’m glad I read the books and am interested to have conversation about the series, I feel a weight lifted, having closed the cover [...]
Posted on August 12th, 2007 by Shotts
Filed under: Books, Hollow Men | 1 Comment »
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Posted on August 9th, 2007 by Ned
Filed under: Art, Books | Enter your password to view comments
With the HP fervor going around, perhaps there is no one out there to read this anyway. I have been haunted by a few things from a discussion we had on this blog months ago now, especially after reading Mountains Beyond Mountains. The first was Peters statement that everyting we do, we do to serve [...]
Posted on July 23rd, 2007 by Ned
Filed under: Books, Ethics & Morality, Hollow Men, Science | 10 Comments »
I forbid any discussion on the cultural significance of the Potter phenomenon. If you want to discuss that, start another post.
Okay any last minute predictions?
Here are my odds:
Chance that Harry will die: 60%
Chance that Voldemort will not die: 20%
Chance that Snape will die: 90%
Chance that Snape is evil: 10%
Chance that Ron will die: 10%
Chance that [...]
Posted on July 18th, 2007 by J.E.
Filed under: Books | 4 Comments »
I thought I should mention here that, at last, I have sucked it up and read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I’m glad I did, if for no other reason than to enter into the conversation about the series, both with those on this site and with the larger culture of which the series [...]
Posted on June 29th, 2007 by Shotts
Filed under: Books | 13 Comments »
For the next few Mondays I’m going to try to post a science related. Today I’ve expurgated Salon’s review of Daniel H. Wilson’s “Where’s My Jetpack”. You can also read the complete review but if you are not a Salon subscriber you may have to watch an advert.
Staring out of my window in Manhattan’s East [...]
Posted on May 14th, 2007 by J.E.
Filed under: Books, Science | 1 Comment »
Before National Poetry Month wanes entirely, here is another spring poem. This one is by D.A. Powell, author of Tea, Lunch, and Cocktails.
sprig of lilac
—for Haines Eason
in a week you could watch me crumble to smut: spent hues
spent perfumes. dust upon [...]
Posted on April 25th, 2007 by Shotts
Filed under: Books, Hollow Men, Love, Poetry | 2 Comments »
