Tag Archives: Society and Culture

The Zinn Reader

Posted on November 21, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Zinn Reader© 1997 Howard Zinn668 pages When I pulled this book from the shelf, I did so with the intention of checking it out and reading it over the Thanksgiving holiday. I did not anticipate the book monopolizing my … Continue reading →

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The Consolations of Philosophy

Posted on October 11, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Consolations of Philosophy © 2000 Alain de Botton 278 pages A number of months ago, I stumbled by chance upon a fascinating television series called Philosophy: A Guide to Happiness. Host Alain de Botton addressed the everyday concerns of … Continue reading →

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In Praise of Slowness

Posted on September 19, 2009 by smellincoffee

In Praise of Slowness: How a Worldwide Movement is Challenging the Cult of Speed © Carl Honoré 2004 310 pages I have been living philosophically for over a year now, and as time passes I am attracted more and more … Continue reading →

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Brave New World

Posted on August 11, 2009 by smellincoffee

Brave New World © 1932 Aldous Huxley 270 pages In Amusing Ourselves to Death, Neil Postman introduced the book with his suspicion that Brave New World’s predictions were coming to fruition — namely, that human happiness will be pursued by … Continue reading →

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To Have or To Be?

Posted on August 5, 2009 by smellincoffee

To Have or to Be? © 1976 Erich Fromm 215 pages Society was sick when Erich Fromm penned The Sane Society in the fifties, and it hadn’t gotten any better by the 1970s when he was asked to participate in … Continue reading →

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Reclaiming Virtue

Posted on July 28, 2009 by smellincoffee

Reclaiming Virtue: How We can Develop the Moral Intelligence to do the Right Thing at the Right Time for the Right Reason © 2009 Ray Bradshaw 528 pages When I checked this out, I expected a rational defense of morality. … Continue reading →

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Jennifer Government

Posted on July 15, 2009 by smellincoffee

Jennifer Government © 2003 Max Barry 321 pages A number of years ago some friends and I began playing the online game “NationStates” in which users create a nation and make daily decisions to shape its progress (or descent). The … Continue reading →

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The Age of American Unreason

Posted on June 25, 2009 by smellincoffee

The Age of American Unreason © 2008 Susan Jacoby 356 pages Oddly enough, I first heard of this book about a year ago when author Susan Jacoby was invited on Point of Inquiry to talk about it. I remember being … Continue reading →

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American Mania

Posted on May 20, 2009 by smellincoffee

American Mania: When More Isn’t Enough© 2005 Peter Whybrow338 pages The title “American Mania” caught my eye as I wandered through library bookcases trying to familiarize myself with the library’s recent reshuffling of the shelves after a discarding period: everything … Continue reading →

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A People’s History of the United States

Posted on May 2, 2009 by smellincoffee

A People’s History of the United States, 1492-Present© 2003 Howard Zinn729 pages I attracted a fair number of dirty looks and endured numerous assaults on my non-existent patriotism for reading this book, making it especially fun to read in public. … Continue reading →

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