For a brief period in the 19th century, Mexico was ruled by a Hapsburg prince installed by France and named emperor. The story is told brilliantly in Edward Shawcross’s new history, ‘The Last Emperor of Mexico.’
Books
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Review: What Marshall McLuhan can teach us in the age of digital media
Marshall McLuhan’s media theories proved prophetic for the age of mass communications—and his religious beliefs played a role in his theories.
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Review: The sexual revolution has hurt both men and women. Where do we go from here?
Louise Perry’s argument against the sexual revolution raises a difficult question for readers: Given the fraught situation in which the sexual revolution has left many women and men, where do we go from here?
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Revisiting the magic and mystery of Thomas Mann
A look back at Thomas Mann’s ‘Reflections of a Nonpolitical Man’ and ‘The Magic Mountain’ reveals an author perpetually in exile—literally and figuratively.
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Pietro Di Donato’s ‘The Penitent’ tells the story of Maria Goretti’s tragic death from her perspective—and her murderer’s
Pietro Di Donato wrote ‘The Penitent’ because he thought it to be a profoundly human story—though both the murderer and the victim became larger than life in reality.
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Review: Understanding Pope Francis’ teaching about the spiritual value of time
Too many of us are attracted to a “spatial” life because we can control spaces and stop them from changing. But time, even when managed, is always beyond our control. In his new book, James K. A. Smith seeks to reorient us to the reality of human life as temporal.
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Review: The rhythm of the week — and how it became central to American life
David Henkin explores the history and development of the week as a unit of time—the only one that has no basis in astronomical rhythms.
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Review: The difference between ‘becoming like God’ and ‘playing God’? The virtues of humility and gratitude.
David McPherson’s new book on the importance of placing limitations on our ambitions and desires touches on existential, political, moral and economic questions.
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Review: Mother Teresa’s dark night of the soul—as told by her beloved friend
Jim Towey tells of his long friendship and collaboration with Mother Teresa in ‘To Love and Be Loved.’
Posted inArts & Culture, Books
Review: A master class in Christian apologetics for the 21st century
Roger Haight’s latest book is a master class in Christian apologetics. Haight’s study rises from pointed questions put to the believer, questions that cannot be ignored or wished away.