Divided into historical eras, he introduces each piece with contextual information — leading ideas of the time, societal understandings, and philosophies. Then the writings are left to stand on their own.
Books for September
Somehow, it is already September. Soon, clocks will turn back and afternoons will turn into night even sooner. Throw blankets will become part of the household wardrobe and a warm mug of tea a necessity. Here are some titles to help you ignore the dying of the light. DR. MüTTER’S MARVELS BY Cristin O’Keefe…
REVIEW: HOW TO LIVE, OR, THE LIFE OF MONTAIGNE by Sarah Bakewell
I must say, I prefer biographies of this sort. It’s far too arrogant for a biographer to think they can just begin at the beginning and go from there. Bakewell instead takes a more meaningful approach to a thinker, philosopher, and writer four-hundred years and a language removed. She drops in, like a neighbor stops…
REVIEW: THE VICES by Lawrence Douglas
Ah, the holiday season… Time to gather with family and surround oneself with warm, comforting memories. Or, more realistically, subdue rising anxieties about the perfect meal, dodging insults about your housekeeping abilities, the way you are bringing up the kids, avoiding this year’s taboo topic, and desperately hoping your gift will meet with a less-whithering…