Fiona Maddocks, Goodbye Russia: Rachmaninoff in exile. It captures the spirit of the man and his music, and is a great addition to the growing literature on European cultural exile in America. Readable and to the point.
Kurt Weyland, The Resilience of Democracy in the Threat of Populism. This book has useful data, and is probably a useful way to correct the extreme fear that exists. But overall it does more to persuade me to the opposite conclusion, namely that populism is a real threat. the author himself writes: “In fact, extensive statistical analysis finds that almost one-third of the cases in which the big nationalist leaders do serious damage to democracy. and they have actually reduced the free mass to about one-fourth of all cases…”
Richard J. Evans, Hitler’s People: The Faces of the Third Reich. This well-reviewed book seems to have no new data or new theory, since it does show that most Nazis were “ordinary ordinary people.” However it is so well written and presented that it deserves high praise anyway.
Tim Lankester, Inside Thatcher’s Audit: The Promise, the Failure, the Legacy, the author was on the scene in the Thatcher government.
Michael Huemer, Continuing Legends. Michael is a very smart philosopher, but this book seems like a waste of time to me. Will it appeal to anyone? Do we need Michael to write seven page articles refuting various claims of the BLM organization and the like?
Josephine Quinn, How the World Made the West: A 4,000-Year History is a very conversational/friendly book for me, but for many readers it is probably essential.
Ben Yagoda, Gobsmacked! The British Invasion of American English is great fun, reading or browsing. For example, I use some of these words: one thing, laugh, curate, early days, a kerfuffle, easy peasyagain the cheek.
Dana Gioia: Poet & Commentator, edited by John Zheng and Jon Parrish, is a series of stories honoring Dana and an excellent introduction to her life and work. Here is my previous CWT with Dana, information billionaire and aspiring information billionaire.
Weep, Shudder, and Die: On Opera and Poetry, is Dana’s forthcoming book on opera. He says Sweeney Todd is one of the two great American operas.
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