In 1840, Edgar Allan Poe described the ‘mad energy’ of an ageing man who roved the streets of London from dusk till dawn. His excruciating despair could be temporarily relieved only by immersing himself in a tumultuous throng of city-dwellers. ‘He refuses to be alone,’ Poe wrote. He ‘is the type and the genius of … Continue reading Before you can be with others, first learn to be alone
Jog your imagination a little and envisage a sumptuous Swedish winter smörgåsbord replete with mouthwatering choices: a fine assortment of cold and hot foods and desserts, of course. It's an exaggerated analogy, but Umberto Eco's 'Inventing the Enemy' gives you a similar experience. 'Inventing the Enemy' compiles a diverse selection of Umberto Eco's essays and … Continue reading Book Review | Inventing the Enemy
Book review of Umberto Eco's Turning Back the Clock.
Book review of Nassim Nicholas Taleb's Antifragile. Antifragile' possesses the trademark Taleb hubris and a touch of boisterousness along with the powerful, argumentative rigor.