Various

Terror & Tragedy In “Amis Amiss” (June/July 2008), Alan Jacobs asks, “When it is time to talk about terror, tragedy, and world-historical occasions, what do writers”precisely as writers ”bring to the table?” Might I suggest that what writers as poets have to offer is a unique . . . . Continue Reading »

The Way of Life John Paul II and the Challenge of Liberal Modernity by Carson Holloway Baylor University Press, 189 pages, $29.95 The late John Paul II, no systematic political thinker, nonetheless mounted one of the late twentieth century’s most sophisticated, if critical, affirmations of . . . . Continue Reading »

My Words Fly Up, My Thoughts Remain Below I was disappointed in reading Robert Miola’s article on “Shakespeare’s Religion” (May 2008) to see the truths of Shakespeare’s plays muddled in the debate of whether they are Protestant or Catholic. Intent audiences will find . . . . Continue Reading »

The Satires of Horace translated by A.M. Juster University of Pennsylvania Press, 160 pages, $34.95 Satire is supposed to be the one native Roman contribution to the literary genres, but it remains hard to define. Satire itself means something like “farrago”: a medley of different subject . . . . Continue Reading »

The ABCs of AIDS The First Things article “AIDS and the Churches” underscores a sad reality in the HIV/AIDS community: that communication and dialogue are ferociously difficult no matter what the intent. Our response here thus aims to frame the issues Edward C. Green and Alison Herling . . . . Continue Reading »

Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream by ross douthat & reihan salam doubleday, 244 pages, $23.95 After publishing “The Party of Sam’s Club”—their much acclaimed 2005 Weekly Standard cover story—the Atlantic Monthly editors Ross . . . . Continue Reading »

Nobility of Spirit: A Forgotten Ideal by Rob Riemen Yale, 160 pages, $22 This is an admirable but rather feckless attempt to erect a bulwark against the tide of egalitarianism that has been running so strongly for the last century. But nobility of spirit, like other kinds of nobility, is not really . . . . Continue Reading »

Wrights and Wrongs I know the comments in the April 2008 issue weren’t a review of my recent book Surprised by Hope , but if the more freewheeling nature of Father Richard John Neuhaus’ column in First Things is used as an excuse for serious misrepresentation, then it is time to . . . . Continue Reading »

Saving Some More Unlike the rest of us mortals, the always indispensable Avery Cardinal Dulles grows more indispensable with each advancing year, and his article “Who Can Be Saved?” (February) will rank as perhaps his most important essay on this topic. I have no quarrel with his . . . . Continue Reading »

Virtuous Leadership: An Agenda for Personal Excellence by Alexandre Havard Scepter, 172 pages, $16.95 Augustine called it libido dominandi ”the lust to control and dominate. For many, fulfilling this desire is what leadership is all about: fame, fortune, and power; being recognized, . . . . Continue Reading »