How pervasive is the power of politics? About as pervasive as you can get, as evidenced by word that Sarah Palin is going to be at the local B&N for a book-signing on December 6. Palin is unquestionably the highest profile “author” to hit the local...

Book blurbs often seem the equivalent of movie blurbs. Skepticism seems justified when a publisher puts a blurb smack on the front cover just below the title — especially when it says, “May be the best book ever written about jazz.” Is this honest...

Does your house have a communal bookshelf? If not, is your bookshelf centrally located so everyone has access to it? Our house is a divided country when it comes to bookshelves. Actually, it’s more akin to bordering states than a civil war but we...

With the Cold War being waged for more than half my life, I was among the many millions fascinated with the fall of the Berlin Wall. Twenty years ago today, the East German government — intentionally or not — opened up its borders. For most, it is...

Bulletin Board I had the pleasure of speaking about blogging this week at the Newspaper Writing: Critical/Editorial course offered by Augie’s English/Journalism programs If only I’d known earlier, a personal dream would come true tonight. ...