Confession: I'm a bad political science graduate. I like to think that I know a little bit about some things when it come to former presidents, but apparently I was wrong. Although I knew about Teddy Roosevelt as a politician (reformer, ran for a third term, had a stuffed bear named after him), I had no idea that he was also a naturalist and explorer. This is pretty … [Read more...]
Sinclair Lewis’ Social Satire in Babbitt (Book Review)
If you were to look at some of the Goodreads reviews for this book, you might be hesitant to pick it up. The main character, George Babbitt, is unlikable, selfish, and a social climber. What you wouldn't know from most of these reviews is that the book is a complete satire and is absolutely hilarious.You see, Babbitt is a conservative, buttoned-up realtor with a wife … [Read more...]
Nafisi’s New Book Links Fiction and Democracy
From the author of Reading Lolita in Tehran comes a mind-expanding followup called The Republic of Imagination. The idea for the book is the result of a question about whether Americans appreciate their fiction and spirals into an analysis of three American classics and their impact on our democratic ideals. The driving argument through the book is that to appreciate … [Read more...]
‘Underground Girls’ is Extraordinary (Book Review)
In a country where a family's worth is dependent on their having a son, some Afghans have found a creative way to circumvent the system. It's more common than you'd expect, rarely discussed in polite company, and has been going on for generations. What do they do, you ask? Why, they raise their daughters as sons. In a stunning story of a trend discovered completely by … [Read more...]
Elizabeth Warren on the Power of Banks (Book Review)
In 2012, Elizabeth Warren burst onto the scene by winning a highly contested congressional race in Massachusetts. Her victory was part of the country's most expensive race, as well as the race that saw Massachusetts' highest voter turnout ever. Before this, however, Warren was quite active within the beltway as an advocate for consumer financial protections and as a … [Read more...]