September 10, 2010
Heard about the Dove World Outreach Center’s plan to publicly burn a stack of Korans on September 11th? Just in time for Banned Books Week, many organizations around the world are promoting September 11th as “International Read a Koran Day”. For those wishing to participate, or who simply want to know more about his highly […]
September 4, 2010
If you are passionate about the Right to Read and want to celebrate Banned/Challenged books, then join the discussion during a “Banned Books Week ReadOut” at Evanston Public Library on Friday, September 24 from 3 – 6 p.m. ALA’s annual “Banned Books Week” will be observed September 25 – October 2, 2010. (read more)
August 31, 2010
If you’re trying to find creative solutions for small spaces in your home, then take a look at the tips and photos in Apartment Therapy’s Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces for inspiration. Filled with great ideas from small homes across the country! For even more photos and advice, see the Apartment Therapy blog.
August 31, 2010
Voice of American featured the exhibit of Barack Obama ephemera at Northwestern University Melville J. Herskovitz Library of African Studies. Entitled “Africa Embraces Obama“, the collection is one of the largest gathering of Barack Obama items in the world.
August 27, 2010
I always feel a little strange reading collections of correspondences by famous authors, artists, or other persons of interest. It feels a bit like snooping, like peering in on private words and lives that were not meant for me. I often find myself wondering what the author of the letters would have thought of having words […]
August 26, 2010
For almost three decades beginning in 1936, many African-American travelers relied on a booklet to help them decide where they could comfortably eat, sleep, buy gas, find a tailor or beauty parlor, shop on a honeymoon to Niagara Falls, or go out at night. In 1949, when the guide was 80 pages, there were five […]
August 24, 2010
Do you need to be able to “deep read” to be a world leader? Following the interview mentioned below, this segment on “All Things Considered” featured producer Brent Baughman speaking with Yale University’s Charles Hill on the reading choices world leaders are making, and the vanishing popularity of seeking guidance from the so-called “classics.” My instant reaction […]
August 24, 2010
You might think it surprising that Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google, is really worried we’re losing the special ability to do so-called deep reading. After all, as NPR’s Audie Cornish pointed out, Google has been pegged as the gateway drug for short attention spans. In an interview with developmental psychologist Maryanne Wolf on the potential loss of a […]
August 23, 2010
Check out Forbes’ list of the highest paid authors. Who’s at the top? James Patterson. You can read more about James Patterson Inc. in a profile featured in the New York Times in January (a link to which was also posted earlier on this blog).
August 21, 2010
Bookslut Jessica Crispin provides an intelligent and eloquent defense of Elizabeth Gilbert and her books in this thought-provoking article.
