Activity on this blog tends to surge when I'm on leave (a relatively rare occurrence), and yes, this year I do have a sabbatical. My research topics are related to health and Chekhov, which is part of why Yuri Corrigan's little book, Chekhov's Antidotes: Prescriptions for an Age of Unrest really hit home. Also, the book is brilliant. In thoughtful, perfectly paced prose Corrigan takes us through four ideas he synthesized from across Chekhov's career. And though he never says LOOK HERE, FRIENDS AND COMRADES! THIS IS ABOUT OUR SOCIETY! that is kind of what he means. Let me give you the subtitles to each of four chapters: "On responding to the pain of others"; "on healing and resisting culture war"; "on mitigating modern loneliness"; "on discerning the meanings of life." Each of these topics feels phenomenally current. The argument--laid out with the elegant reasoning of a philosopher who wants to speak to a broad audience--unfolds ...
A blog about travel and staying put, reading and writing, food and food for thought.