Some people say the great American novel has not been written. They're wrong, and this is it. Published in 1944, it is one of only two major novels written by Ayn Rand; the second, Atlas Shrugged, is more directly political and more influential, but this is our personal favorite.
The hero of the novel is Howard Roark, an architect, but the real theme of the book is the importance of individuals making their own judgments, based on their own values, rather than blindly following the standards set by others. Or, in 3 words, think for yourself.
This is of the great novels of all time, and it includes some of the basic tenet's of Rand's philosophy, such as the idea that people should act selfishly, but in an enlightened long term sort of way.
This is one of the few books that can profoundly change the way you live your life.
You should read Dickens. Don't be put off by the fact that he was writing a long time ago, or that you were forced to read him in high school; this is easy, accessible reading, and every bit as entertaining today as when it was written.
We recommend starting with Bleak House, the most autobiographical of Dickens' novels. But there are many great novels by Dickens, such as The Pickwick Papers, Little Dorrit, A Tale of Two Cities. Dickens was a very prolific writer, and once you have discovered how easy he is to read, you will have discovered the source of a lifetime of entertainment.
Bleak House is the story of a lawsuit over an inheritance, and all the people involved in the inheritance; the good, the bad, and the ugly. Among other things, it is a savage indictment of the English legal system of the time - an indictment that is relevant to the American legal system today. But it's also a romance, a family drama, and more, filled with Dicken's usual assortment of fascinating characters.
More than anything else, this is an intelligent and moving romantic story. But its also a book about business, and about the early clashes between industrialists and the laborers who worked for them.
A brilliantly crafted work, just as easy to read today as in 1855. Gaskell pits the agricultural south of England against the industrializing north, and does a very fair job of contrasting the virtues and vices of each; she also has an excellent understanding of business, and gives a fair rendering of the issues for the working class, particularly through the character Higgins, and the "masters", in the form of her love interest, Mr. Thorton.
North and South is a mix of Austen, without the gentleness or humor, but Mr. Thorton is very much a Mr. Darcy character, hard and resolute in his class, but becoming gentler as the story develops. And as in Pride and Prejudice, the heroine, in this case M
Be glad that this book is 767 pages long; it's a great book, and you should savor the experience of reading it.
This is our favorite book by Anthony Trollope, one of the great Victorian novelists writing in the time of Dickens, Austen, Gaskell, and Thackeray.
At it's core, this book is about means versus ends; the way you get money matters more than the amount of money you get. The plot puts two very different characters in opposition in a way that is just as relevant today as it was when the book was written. One is a rich and very sleazy financier; the Victorian version of Madoff. The other is a young man who wants to work and create value; in this case, building a railroad in the American West, which was all the rage at the time.
The book is much more than this, of course, including romance, but The Way We Live Now refers to living in a time when wealth and appearances are all that matter, and substance and the means used to acquire wealth are ignored; as true today as in Trollope's time.
An excellent book, and though very general, and focusing mostly on the US, with many comparisons to France, and a few to other Western European countries, it has some very profound observations about cultural differences. A few comments about Japan, but nothing at all about Latins or the rest of Asia.
Hoving, the former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, has selected the 111 greatest works of Western art that he believes are "the pinnacles of quality, elegance, and artistic strength, the best mankind has created, the hallmarks of unalloyed genius," Very wide variety of work, both in mediums, places, and times.
The only thing you really need to know is that the 1995 version of Pride and Prejudice, based on the Jane Austen novel, is one of the finest films ever made, despite originally being made as a miniseries for TV. Isn’t it amazing the difference that casting can make? The 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice is quite good – just not nearly as good as the original A&E version, despite the fact that the more recent one has some good stars, including superstars Keira Knightley, Judi Dench, and Donald Sutherland. And Knightley is a fine Elizabeth Bennet – just not with quite the edge that Jennifer Ehle plays in the AE version. Matthew Macfadyen is not bad as Mr. Darcy – but he does not define the role in the same convincing way that Colin Firth – far less famous in 1995. With the exception of Dench, every character in the 2005 version is fine, and you would think you had seen a fine movie – until you see the 1995 version. One thing is common to both versions is that they stay fairly constant to Austen’s text.
Richard Gere/Jennifer Lopez/Bette Midler/Stanley Tucci
This is a sweet movie, but not in a saccharine sense. We enjoy a lot of Richard Gere movies, and we also find J Lo weirdly endearing. Gere plays an estate lawyer who needs something to break out of his routine work and family life; turns out that something is ballroom dance. This is the kind of movie you could watch with your kids or parents, and not be embarrassed by any of it – but also not be bored. And old fashioned romance, with fine casting.
Based on the famous play by Oscar Wilde about name confusion between two brothers in 1890s England.
This is funny in a light but still amusing way. Has some big time stars including Colin Firth and Rupert Everett as the bothers, and Reese Witherspoon as the object of one brother's romance. Not deep, but very funny and well-done.
30-something bachelor, on the cusp of being unhappy with his singleness, begins to examine his lifestyle and goals with the unrequested aid of a fatherless, taunted, mature-beyond-years boy.
Comments: Interesting movie, very good. Hugh Grant stands out as complacent but redeemable Will. The child actor who played mature, sweet, introspective Marcus got it dead on. Also liked self-assured Ellie character. Nice to see female teen portrayed as smart AND nice (not witchy).
Moral: I don't know, really. Of course there's a lot to be said for goodness and treating others with respect, but this movie goes beyond that -- the Will character examines his life and does what few people do: is unhappy with it and actually makes changes. So, I guess, it's about reaching out, even to the most unlikely people, and following through, even though the path may be hidden.
Quotes: "When I hear you sing it's like sunshine." Marcus' mom to Marcus
Plot: Two loser brothers, one a aspiring actor and the other an accountant, about their respective love lives, mixed in with an old black guy, who brings the accountant back together with the Italian babe. Happy endings all around.
Comments: Written and starred in by two brothers, the plot is good, semi-realistic, and affirming. And the italian woman is gorgeous
M*A*S*H Stands for Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, and this one is stationed in the middle of Korea during the Korean War, manned by US doctors and nurses who would much rather be somewhere else, not surprisingly as the makeshift hospital is near the front lines and frequently comes under enemy mortar fire.
At one time this comedy was the most popular show in the US, with Alan Alda, portraying Dr. Pierce, becoming an icon for the 1970s sensitive leading man. While the show has a generally liberal anti-war bias, it's still fun viewing even for conservatives. The humor here is of the sarcastic variety.
Hugely popular series about New York based mobsters, focusing on mob boss Tony Soprano and his family. James Gandolfini is impressive in the lead role playing an unusually introspective and sensitive man - at least by mob standards. We think The Wire is much better, but millions loved the Sopranos.
Even if you are not a fan of glass as an art form, it\\\'s hard to see how you cannot be somewhat awed by the work of glass master Dale Chihuly. If you\\\'ve looked at glass before its probably been on a smaller scale, and perhaps whimsical, so hard to take seriously. But many of Chihuly\\\'s works are massive in scale, larger than a person, and are exhibited in scenes around the world like the Phoenix Botanical Gardens, where we took these photos.\r\n\r\nIf you see his works at an outdoor exhibition, like one of these forthcoming exhibits, try going at night, when the works are lit up and especially beautiful. But any time of day they can be awe inspiring. His works can also be seen in books such as this one, which give you some idea of the art, but we recommend seeing them in person if possible.\r\n\r\nClick here for Chihuly\\\'s galleries.\r\n\r\n
In Defense of Selfishness: Why the Code of Self-Sacrifice is Unjust and Destructive [Peter Schwartz] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. From childhood, we\\\'re taught one central, non-controversial idea about morality: self-sacrifice is a virtue. It is universally accepted that serving the needs of others is the essence of morality. To be ethical--it is believed--is to be altruistic. Questioning this belief is regarded as tantamount to questioning the self-evident. \r\n\r\nHere, Peter Schwartz questions it.In Defense of Selfishness refutes widespread misconceptions about the meaning of selfishness and of altruism.\r\n
“Back then, doctors had no appreciation whatsoever for exercise as being beneficial in any way,” Pyles says. “I still think it’s dramatically underappreciated. Particularly
