The biggest question about some books is why they are not better known. Montesquieu is an extremely important and well known political philosopher, whose (long) book The Spirit of Laws is a landmark in political theory. The Roman Empire is a perennially interesting topic to both scholars and general readers. So, imagine if Montesquieu wrote a book about the Roman Empire. That book would surely be a runaway bestseller, right? He did write that book. And nobody has heard of … [Read more...] about What About Rome?
Modern Society
Immigration: Can We Talk About This?
An article published in Public Discourse: The debate on immigration in America has hit a wall. “Debate” is the wrong word, though, with its implication that the two sides are actually speaking to one another and addressing the arguments of the other. It is more accurate to say that the posturing on immigration has hit a wall. Read the rest of the article here at Public Discourse. … [Read more...] about Immigration: Can We Talk About This?
The Follies of John Kenneth Galbraith
Consider John Kenneth Galbraith’s (he of three names—so as not be confused with John Galbraith, you know, the one without the Kenneth) book, The Affluent Society. Here is the funny thing about Galbraith. To non-economists of a certain age (read: old), Galbraith was one of the leading lights of economics, the guy who popularized Keynes, the guy who understood economics and could explain it to the masses. But, within the economics guild, Galbraith barely exists. Sure his name floats around … [Read more...] about The Follies of John Kenneth Galbraith
C.S. Lewis and Progress
C. S. Lewis’ The Seeing Eye is a posthumous collection of otherwise not collected essays. As always with such things, it is hard to review. If you step back and ask, “What unifies these essays?,” the honest answer is “Well, Lewis never put them in a collection of essays he made during his lifetime.” Not much of a hook there. So, who buys a book like this? Presumably people who just can’t enough of Lewis. Should you read … [Read more...] about C.S. Lewis and Progress
Our Socialist Moment
Is what divides us greater than what unites us? If you pay attention to the popular narrative of the day, then the answer sure seems to be an unqualified “Yes.” If that is your answer, then Elizabeth Gaskell wrote a book just for you. North and South. Originally published in the 1850s. Some things really don't ever change The 1850s were, to put it mildly, a tempestuous time in Europe. The Communist Manifesto was published in 1848. The complaints were loud: the rich … [Read more...] about Our Socialist Moment
The Wishing Game
Let’s play the “You get three wishes” game. (And, yes, "ixnay on the wishing for more wishes.") Here is the challenge: Can you craft a wish which cannot be subverted? Terry Pratchett’s novel, Eric, is, like all Discworld novels, a mash-up parody of innumerable other things. In this case, the primary objects of mockery are Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, Homer, the Aztecs, and Dante. As with all Discworld novels, it is marvelous fun. In the novel Eric tries to summon a demon so he can … [Read more...] about The Wishing Game