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Fascinating. So far I'm only up to Leaves of Grass, but I'm struck by the prose style of the earlier reviewers. Even the most pompous and pedantic of today's b
by hugh3 15y ago
Fascinating.
So far I'm only up to Leaves of Grass, but I'm struck by the prose style of the earlier reviewers. Even the most pompous and pedantic of today's book reviewers would never write like this:
But multitudinousness cannot make the spectacle of his morbidness any more acceptable. It cannot palliate the gross impropriety of which he is guilty, in publishing what is unfit for repetition; an impropriety doubled by the retention of this disgusting stuff in a new edition issued after many years, during which the author has had ample opportunity to free himself from his youthful crudities.
though whether this is an indication of the dumbing down of the audience or merely some restraint on the part of overeducated book reviewers is unclear.
- DavidAdams 15y agoThe Atlantic is, IMO, an excellent and approachable publication today, however, as a regular reader, I must note that they still let the pompous and pedantic flag fly in the book reviews that appear in the final pages of each issue.
- klbarry 15y agoIf I may ask, what are the best features of the Atlantic (from what do you derive the most value)? I am thinking about a subscription.
- forkandwait 15y agoI am a subscriber and what I like most is that the articles are long, full of detailed reasoning behind any policy they advocate for, and mostly non-partisan. When they argue for or against something (say business regulation), they don't make sweeping generalizations (all regulation is bad! corporations are bad!), but rather are specific about where and when they would apply the policy, are careful to admit unknowns and limit their scope, give examples of the opposing view, and give detailed reasons for advocacy (as a opposed to general principles). I personally want to vomit whenever I read the WSJ or the Nation -- both full of smart people who are true believers -- I think true believers are the bane of rational conversation and social progress.