I wonder if this historical look at the crafting of espresso machines in The Smithsonian will make you think, as I did, about how incredibly Steam Punk a good cappuccino can be.
Elaborate Gilded Contraptions
Generally Five Stars
“Even weeks after its publication, no one agrees on What Happened and Clinton’s ability to assess her own past. But in post-truth America, the truth that becomes history may well be decided by star-rating.” The Guardian considers how Amazon reviews became the new battlefield of US politics. Namechecked in the piece: Nancy MacLean, whom we interviewed about her new book, Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for America, here.
Are Young Writers in Their Prime?
Sam Tanenhaus, musing about the New Yorker "young writers" list points out that, far from being a writer's formative years, many of the great classics in literary history were penned by writers in their 30s, or younger.
Special Interests
At 1,700 words, J.K. Rowling’s new “History of the Quidditch World Cup” may not be as daunting a read as J.R.R Tolkien’s The Silmarillion, but what it lacks in length it makes up for in its appeal to ardent fans. At Slate, a brief look at the Wizarding World’s latest reference book.
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You May Call Me Bobby, Or You May Call Me Zimmy
In more "Dylan at 70" news, the knowledgeable Ed Ward reviews the compilation How Many Roads: Black America Sings Bob Dylan for The Oxford American. (Editor's Note: The omission from this album of Nina Simone's "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" and Ben E. King's "Lay Lady Lay" are both unconscionable.)
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Describing Art as an Art Form
Recommended: Matthew Monteith's series of photographs showing people explaining artworks.
No Room for Others
African-Americans make up no more than 2% of employees in editorial rooms. In case you’re wondering why publishing is so white, Publishers Weekly reports that unconscious bias is the biggest issue.
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