Latest Post
A Sociology of Texas
Texas looms large in the story that America tells about itself, and this has given rise to a subgenre where male writers from Texas (usually of European ancestry) seek to understand better, apologize for, and thoroughly explain to their readers the conditions of the author’s home state. Though Lawrence Wright's 'God Save Texas: A Journey into the Soul of the Lone Star State' (Knopf, 2018) nominally falls into this subgenre, it manages to overcome the constraints that some with it, or so BRB reviewer Christopher Landrum argues. While much of the book examines how Texas’s economy, population, and political influence over the rest of the nation have expanded since about 1978, Wright is ambivalent, and more than a little impatient, with the continued “immature political culture” of Texas -- a culture that, as the current occupants of the White House demonstrates, has long rubbed off on the rest of the country. All in all, the book, in spite of some glaring omissions, provides a readable and informative for Texas and non-Texas alike to gain a new perspective on the 'lone star state'.
Featured Post
Writer Wolfgang Herrndorf committed suicide in the summer of 2013, at age 48. He was best known for his bestselling novel "Tschick", which garnered Herrndorf many literary accolades, even as he was diagnosed with a brain tumour shortly before its publication. Herrndorf documented his thoughts and the final years of his life in a blog, which has now been published as a book entitled "Arbeit und Struktur" ("Work and Structure", Rowohlt, Berlin 2013). The title is derived from a comment by one of many doctors (Herrndorf, in his diary, resorts to referring them by numbers), who had recommended "work and structure" as a way of confronting fear and despair. Yet, as reviewer Frank Berzbach observes, no matter how depressing the diary’s entries are getting, at no point does Herrndorf allow his suffering to wrest control of his life from him: "This, indeed, is a reason to read his book: so as to maintain the upper hand, come what may. So as not to be driven to madness, or to escapism."
Asides
- The Berlin Review of Books had its very own lecture series at the 2012 Edinburgh Festival: http://www.summerhall.co.uk/tag/berlin-review-of-books/ #
- Comments policy: ‘No comments.’ (Don’t take it personally.) Details here. #
- Follows us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/TheBerlinReview #
- For regular updates, subscribe to our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/berlinbooks #
Welcome to The Berlin Review of Books
The Berlin Review of Books aims to publish high-quality reviews of, and insightful essays based on, important recent books published in any language, with a focus on non-fiction. While it will often approach contemporary debates from a European perspective, it is open to intelligent contributions from around the globe. Our goal is to promote honest and knowledgeable debate of issues of real significance; for this reason, we are committed to financial and editorial independence. The Berlin Review of Books does not normally publish fiction or poetry, except by invitation.
Recent Posts
Browse
Categories
- Anthropology
- Arts & Architecture
- Biography & Memoirs
- Classics & Ancient History
- Commentary
- Cultural Studies
- Economics & Psychology
- Essays
- Fiction
- Global Affairs
- Intellectual History
- Interviews
- Literature & Criticism
- Modern History
- Music, Performance, Cinema
- Natural History
- Philosophy
- Poetry
- Politics & Law
- Science & Technology
- Social & Political Studies
- Uncategorized
