Talk is cheap but surprisingly effective

Sometimes one piece of writing changes one mind. Until today I thought that talk therapy was utterly discredited. But there appears to be strong evidence that a skilled therapist can help the brain to change its relationship to the world. Depression       From The Economist print edition (Apr 14th 2005) FOR almost a century [Read More]

Welcome to the Afterlife of Saul Bellow

Saul Bellow had to die before I would pay any attention to him. I read today’s obituary in the New York Times (click on “more” button) and immediately realized that I should put some of his novels on my summer reading list. I just ordered myself a copy of The Adventures of Augie image [Read More]

Peter Pan

I started reading Bibliomania.com/0/0/323/2396/frameset.html">Peter Pan. The last time that I came into contact with the characters of the story was in the movie Hook, which invented a sequel to the original Peter Pan. I have not heard about the plot of the original story since childhood and had almost completely forgotten it. Reading the image [Read More]

Why It Often Rains in the Movies

A few days ago, I read this wonderful short piece by Lawrence Raab in a book entitled “The Paris Review Book for Planes, Trains, Elevators, and Waiting Rooms” (p. 260). Because so much consequential thinking happens in the rain. A steady mist to recall departures, a bitter downpour for betrayal. As if the first thing a man wants to [Read More]