Literature
Nick Paumgarten?s fascinating article on Robert Greene (?Fresh Prince? Nov. 11, 2006) seems to forward an implicit critique of the self-help craze. What one gains in power, money, success, and fame is often at the expense of one?s actual ?self?. Thus Greene?s persona slips in and out of focus throughout the article, never fully materializing as a human being to whom readers might in fact relate. Who is Robert Greene? For some, he is a mystic scribe; for others, a savvy business consultant; for others still, he is nothing less than a god. This brings to mind Marx?s observation in Capital: ?A commodity appears, at first sight, a very trivial thing, and easily understood. Its analysis shows that it is, in reality, a very queer thing, abounding in metaphysical subtleties and theological niceties? (Capital, Vol. One, Sect. 4). Robert Greene is first and foremost a commodity: he is consumed in an already intact web of social relations and abstracted value. There are no ?selves? to help here; the consistent face of capital does not require personality.
- Libertarianism And Leaf Blowing: An Aporia
Tad Friend's recent New Yorker article on the suburban politics of leaf blowing suggests a very troubling state of affairs ("Blowback," October 25). The article pits quiet-loving citizens against "the libertarians" who want to be able to pay gardeners...
- Green Values
Elizabeth Kolbert?s article on Amory Lovins (?Mr. Green? Jan. 22, 2007) exposes a vexing problem at the core of contemporary environmentalism. Lovins offers example after example of ecologically savvy solutions, by shrewdly linking energy conservation...
- Neglected Review #2: Brighton Rock By Graham Greene
?This was hell then; it wasn't anything to worry about: it was just his own familiar room.? Sorry, but I honestly can't remember much about this one other than it was dull, silly and my least favorite novel so far from one of my favorite...
- A Burnt-out Case By Graham Greene
"I feel discomfort, therefore I am." In my reluctant haste to read as many novels as possible this year, I severely fell behind on writing reviews. Graham Greene's A Burnt-Out Case is a fascinating literary work that warrants an extensive...
- The Power And The Glory By Graham Greene
"Hope was an instinct only the reasoning human mind could kill. An animal never knew despair." Curse you procrastination! Regretfully, I should have written a review soon after finishing this wonderful novel by my favorite author or at the very...
Literature
Self-help without the self
Nick Paumgarten?s fascinating article on Robert Greene (?Fresh Prince? Nov. 11, 2006) seems to forward an implicit critique of the self-help craze. What one gains in power, money, success, and fame is often at the expense of one?s actual ?self?. Thus Greene?s persona slips in and out of focus throughout the article, never fully materializing as a human being to whom readers might in fact relate. Who is Robert Greene? For some, he is a mystic scribe; for others, a savvy business consultant; for others still, he is nothing less than a god. This brings to mind Marx?s observation in Capital: ?A commodity appears, at first sight, a very trivial thing, and easily understood. Its analysis shows that it is, in reality, a very queer thing, abounding in metaphysical subtleties and theological niceties? (Capital, Vol. One, Sect. 4). Robert Greene is first and foremost a commodity: he is consumed in an already intact web of social relations and abstracted value. There are no ?selves? to help here; the consistent face of capital does not require personality.
- Libertarianism And Leaf Blowing: An Aporia
Tad Friend's recent New Yorker article on the suburban politics of leaf blowing suggests a very troubling state of affairs ("Blowback," October 25). The article pits quiet-loving citizens against "the libertarians" who want to be able to pay gardeners...
- Green Values
Elizabeth Kolbert?s article on Amory Lovins (?Mr. Green? Jan. 22, 2007) exposes a vexing problem at the core of contemporary environmentalism. Lovins offers example after example of ecologically savvy solutions, by shrewdly linking energy conservation...
- Neglected Review #2: Brighton Rock By Graham Greene
?This was hell then; it wasn't anything to worry about: it was just his own familiar room.? Sorry, but I honestly can't remember much about this one other than it was dull, silly and my least favorite novel so far from one of my favorite...
- A Burnt-out Case By Graham Greene
"I feel discomfort, therefore I am." In my reluctant haste to read as many novels as possible this year, I severely fell behind on writing reviews. Graham Greene's A Burnt-Out Case is a fascinating literary work that warrants an extensive...
- The Power And The Glory By Graham Greene
"Hope was an instinct only the reasoning human mind could kill. An animal never knew despair." Curse you procrastination! Regretfully, I should have written a review soon after finishing this wonderful novel by my favorite author or at the very...