How the Word Is Passed by Clint Smith Nonfiction, 2021 David knows that some visitors to Monticello arrive with an understanding of history that is not only misguided but also harmful. He has a difficult time disentangling this from the … Continue reading Book Report — How the Word Is Passed; It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth
Just Us by Charles Homans For this article, Charles Homans starts with the questionable press tour undertaken by a juror who served in a grand jury case examining one slice of the monumentally criminality of the amoral dimwit who placed … Continue reading Outside Reading — Peers edition
We Had a Little Real Estate Problem: The Unheralded Story of Native Americans and Comedy by Kliph Nesteroff Nonfiction, 2021 Marginalization was a federal policy in both Canada and the United States for 150 years. The purpose has always been … Continue reading Book Report — We Had a Little Real Estate Problem; Absurdistan
When Public Money Becomes Private by Lyz Lenz Writing in her own newsletter, Men Yell at Me, Lyz Lenz details how the longstanding right-wing crusade to divert public education funds towards charter schools has other private institutions does irreparable damage … Continue reading Outside Reading — Be Cruel to Your School
Gaining Accolades While Covering War Victims in Burkina Faso by Clair MacDougall In the regular Saturday Profile section of The New York Times, Clair MacDougall spotlight another journalist. Mariam Ouédraogo has earned several awards, including recently one the most prestigious, … Continue reading Outside Reading — The Truth Is Coming edition
All the Women in My Brain and Other Concerns by Betty Gilpin Nonfiction, 2022 My mom played Lincoln’s sister-in-law at Lincoln Center, a fact I presented to to my fellow second graders as a popularity jetpack. I was met with … Continue reading Book Report — All the Women in My Brain and Other Concerns; Dinosaur Beach
A Warm Slice of Pizza in a Bombarded City by Thomas Gibbons-Neff and Natalia Yermak I understand that I operate with a level of privilege, and I try not to take it for granted. As my household gets to pause … Continue reading Outside Reading — The Road Is So Long edition
Iceland’s Christmas Book Flood Is a Force of Nature by Lauren Oster For Smithsonian magazine, Lauren Oster writes about the Icelandic tradition called Jólabókaflóð, which amounts to a holiday season celebration of books. The articles traces the long reverence for … Continue reading Outside Reading — Jólabókaflóð edition
THE DIRT ON PIG-PEN by Elif Batuman Writing for Astra, Elif Batuman explores the history of the Peanuts character who travels with his own trailing cloud. I’m always fond of cultural commentary that convincingly applies broader social theory to seemingly … Continue reading Outside Reading — The Human Dust-Bowl edition
How Karina Longworth Brought Sex and Sleaze Back to Hollywood History by Alex Morris Given my specific cultural interests, it’s ridiculous that it took me as long as it did to listen to You Must Remember This, the Hollywood-focused podcast … Continue reading Outside Reading — Join Us, Won’t You? edition
Coffee for Two 