What We Are Reading Today: The End of Ambition by Mark Atwood Lawrence

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Updated 10 January 2022
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What We Are Reading Today: The End of Ambition by Mark Atwood Lawrence

At the start of the 1960s, John F. Kennedy and other American liberals expressed boundless optimism about the ability of the United States to promote democracy and development in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

With US power, resources, and expertise, almost anything seemed possible in the countries of the Cold War’s “Third World”— developing, postcolonial nations unaligned with the US or Soviet Union.

Yet by the end of the decade, this vision lay in ruins.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Ant Collective’

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Updated 11 May 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘The Ant Collective’

Author: ARMIN SHCIEB

Ants share a vibrant and complex communal life and remarkable abilities to communicate with each other.

“The Ant Collective” presents the world of ants as you have never seen it before, using hyperrealistic, computer-generated imagery that shows 3D-like views of activities inside and outside a thriving nest of red wood ants.

With chapters on topics ranging from the establishment and construction of the nest to the birth of an ant trail and the relocation of a colony, this one-of-a-kind book brilliantly integrates informative descriptions with the illustrations.

 


What We Are Reading Today: The Shield of Achilles

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Updated 11 May 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: The Shield of Achilles

Author: W. H. Auden Edited by Alan Jacobs

“The Shield of Achilles,” which won the National Book Award in 1956, may well be W. H. Auden’s most important, intricately designed, and unified book of poetry. In addition to its famous title poem, which reimagines Achilles’s shield for the modern age, when war and heroism have changed beyond recognition, the book also includes two sequences—“Bucolics” and “Horae Canonicae”—that Auden believed to be among his most significant work.

Featuring an authoritative text and an introduction and notes by Alan Jacobs, this volume brings Auden’s collection back into print for the first time in decades and offers the only critical edition of the work.

As Jacobs writes in the introduction, Auden’s collection “is the boldest and most intellectually assured work of his career, an achievement that has not been sufficiently acknowledged.” Describing the book’s formal qualities and careful structure, Jacobs shows why The Shield of Achilles should be seen as one of Auden’s most central poetic statements—a richly imaginative, beautifully envisioned account of what it means to live, as human beings do, simultaneously in nature and in history.

 


Book Review: ‘I Used to Have a Plan: But Life Had Other Ideas’ by Alessandra Olanow

Updated 11 May 2024
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Book Review: ‘I Used to Have a Plan: But Life Had Other Ideas’ by Alessandra Olanow

  • The author’s storytelling talent and introspective reflections on her personal journey make this book an excellent option for people searching for inspiration and a deeper understanding of life and human experience

“I Used to Have a Plan: But Life Had Other Ideas” is a captivating book by New York-based author Alessandra Olanow. Her book was published in 2020 and talks about a self-discovery journey and resilience.

Through her beautifully crafted stories and storytelling, she takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and invites them to learn through the unexpected experiences that shape their lives.

Through the pages of this book, Olanow shares her personal experiences of how she managed to overcome life’s unpredictable circumstances. With her honesty and interesting narrative, she speaks about the lessons learned on her life journey. From her professional experiences to her personal relationships, Olanow’s story exudes authenticity and reminds the reader that life rarely follows a straight path, which makes life realistic and beautiful at the same time.

One of the strengths of Olanow’s book is her ability to describe the depth of emotions and how she talks about her personal struggles during some of the hardest moments in her life.

She expresses her opinions and reflections on life’s challenges by encouraging the readers to reflect as well on their own journeys, motivating them to overcome their obstacles too.

Moreover, regardless of the ups and downs she encountered, she explained how she maintained a sense of hope and resilience.

Additionally, the book is enriched with evocative descriptions of the places the author has lived and traveled to. Whether she was exploring the busy streets in one city or immersing herself in the serenity of nature, her ability to paint a colorful picture through her words takes readers to these places, allowing them to travel with her in thoughts.

Overall, this book is interesting and inspiring at the same time. It reminds readers of the beauty and resilience of accepting life’s unexpected turns and celebrating the beautiful moments too.

The author’s storytelling talent and introspective reflections on her personal journey make this book an excellent option for people searching for inspiration and a deeper understanding of life and human experience.
 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Molds, Mushrooms, and Medicines’ by Nicholas P. Money

Updated 09 May 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Molds, Mushrooms, and Medicines’ by Nicholas P. Money

From beneficial yeasts that aid digestion to toxic molds that cause disease, we are constantly navigating a world filled with fungi. “Molds, Mushrooms, and Medicines” explores the amazing ways fungi interact with our bodies, showing how our health and well-being depend on an immense ecosystem of yeasts and molds inside and all around us. Nicholas Money takes readers on a guided tour of a marvelous unseen realm, describing how our immune systems are engaged in continuous conversation with the teeming mycobiome inside the body, and how we can fall prey to serious and even life-threatening infections when this peaceful coexistence is disturbed.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘A Tear and A Smile’ by Khalil Gibran

Updated 09 May 2024
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘A Tear and A Smile’ by Khalil Gibran

Khalil Gibran’s “A Tear and A Smile” is a collection of poems and reflections first published in 1914. The book explores the contrasting aspects of life, such as joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, as well as the complexities of human emotions.

Gibran’s compelling lyrical and philosophical style shines as he contemplates the beauty and challenges of life including love, loss and longing.

He invites readers to reflect on the intricacies of their own emotions and experiences.

The collection is divided into two sections, “A Tear” and “A Smile,” symbolizing the duality of human existence.

In “A Tear,” Gibran delves into the sorrows and struggles of life, exploring pain, loss, and the transient nature of human existence. Through his poignant and evocative language, he captures the universal experience of human suffering.

In contrast, “A Smile” focuses on the brighter aspects of life. Gibran celebrates joy, love, and the beauty found in everyday moments.

He emphasizes the importance of gratitude, kindness, and embracing life’s blessings. The poems in this section inspire hope and encourage the reader to find solace and happiness in the simple pleasures of life.

“I would not exchange the sorrows of my heart for the joys of the multitude. And I would not have the tears that sadness makes to flow from my every part turn into laughter. I would that my life remain a tear and a smile,” he writes.