Posts by author
Isaac Fitzgerald
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“Philosophy is a series of footnotes to Plato.”
“There are as many definitions of philosophy as there are philosophers – perhaps there are even more. After three millennia of philosophical activity and disagreement, it is unlikely that we’ll reach consensus, and I certainly don’t want to add more…
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“Many writers would happily settle to be remembered for one title.”
“Do we really want consistency in an artist? What does this pressure to please the market have to do with art? Originality involves risk, and risk implies the possibility of failure. That’s how greatness is born. Melville was acclaimed for…
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Dear New York and San Francisco Readers
Looking for thinks to do this weekend? Don’t forget about Notable New York and Notable San Francisco, our weekly events lists. For example, this evening in NYC? : The Thing Quarterly presents contributors Starlee Kine, David Lipsky, David Rees and…
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The Possessed
“In her mid-20s, Batuman, a Turkish-American, is a graduate student at Stanford. She’s something of a polyglot savant—knowing English and Turkish, she picks up Russian and Uzbek with ease. A fledgling scholar, she gives a paper at a Tolstoy conference…
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“There is not much capital…”
“Yet for some — possibly foolhardy — reason, a lot of people still want to work in journalism, and even amid the depths of the recession, there have been stirrings of creativity. A multitude of younger, nimbler enterprises have popped…
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An Excellent “Dear Sugar”
Today’s Dear Sugar, which deals with fantasy culture and sexual abuse, is very powerful and very good. Don’t miss it. Also, have a problem you need help with? Hit the Sugar spot.
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Bad Writing
“Sadly, if bad writers have one thing in common it’s that they’re all firmly convinced that they’re good writers. Really good writers.” Laura Miller discusses “bad writing” in all its forms, and gives praise to our own Steve Almond’s Bad…
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Japan’s Splitter-Uppers: “Part-Private Investigator, Part-Prostitute”
“The function of the wakaresase-ya is the direct opposite of a dating agency: with great ingenuity, and the right fee, they will prise apart human relationships. Do you have a troublesome ex-boyfriend who won’t leave you alone? A beloved son…