Book Reviews
Republican Political Mother
The author portrays the life of one dynamic woman during a period of major changes. Political campaigns went from relying heavily on volunteers, most of whom were women, to that of paid pollsters and political consultants, most of whom are not women. more »
CultureWatch Reviews: Carthage Must Be Destroyed and The City of God
The author of Carthage Must Be Destroyed takes a close look at our preconceived notions of Carthage and Carthaginians, colored as they are by the accounts of Greek and Roman writers who had a vested interest in presenting Carthaginians as cruel and duplicitous. The City of God is as rich in lofty thinking, baroque writing, sympathetic characters, vivid settings, and suspense as anything you are likely to see more than once or twice in a lifetime. Take your time, but read it. more »
Book Review: Oldman's Brave New World of Wine: Pleasure, Value and Adventure Beyond Wine’s Usual Suspects
I look for value wherever I go. I buy clothes when they’re on sale. When I donate to public radio or charity, I try to do it when there’s a matching offer. So when I notice the word "value" in a book title about wine, I pay attention. more »
Things I Wish I Could Say
"I'd like to thank the Academy ..." How I’d love to utter those words, draped in Dior and dripping diamonds, standing before an audience of thousands of Tinseltown's elite, a bank of cameras capturing the moment for millions more. Heck, I’d even be happy to be able to say, "It's an honor just to be nominated ..." more »