Mixing Book Reviews with Social Commentary and Philosophy

Today's posts include one from my favorite movie reviewer of all time--A.O. Scott--who the NYTimes grabbed to review a book on the concept of immaturity in America.  Scott writes things that are so funny and incisive that it often requires a double-take to realize that's he has eviscerated his subject.  For instance, I still remember back in 2007 when he wrote that the movie version of Dan Brown's "The DaVinci Code" triumphed by taking longer to watch than it took him to read the book.  That's some delightful sarcasm there, in case you are wondering.  Here's Scott's take on "Why Grow Up" by Susan Neiman.http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/21/books/review/why-grow-up-by-susan-neiman.html

I've also linked to an interview with Candace Bushnell, whose work you may be familiar with, although I'm not a fan.  The reason I include it is that she reveals the fascinating world of books in which her mind has been swimming since she was growing up.  She talks about how she found a Groucho Marx biography in the high school library and she could have hidden away in that corner of the library reading it forever.  I love that!

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/21/books/review/candace-bushnell-by-the-book.html?rref=books/review&module=Ribbon&version=context&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Sunday%20Book%20Review&pgtype=article

Also, here's a review about how your parents could do a better job (note more verbal irony):  there's some ammo for future dinner table discussions.  The book is "How to Raise an Adult" by Julie Lythcott-Haims. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/21/books/review/how-to-raise-an-adult-by-julie-lythcott-haims.html?_r=0

My email address is howellj@dy-regional.k12.ma.us

The purpose of these postings is to give you an entree into the world of the intellectual.  Send me your entries or commentaries as soon as you can--one or two per week is the right pace--because we're trying to cultivate habits of mind that will take your scholarly game to the next level.

Feel free to choose other book reviews of comparable merit if you wish.