What We Are Reading Today: How To Read Now

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Updated 28 July 2022
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What We Are Reading Today: How To Read Now

Author: Elaine Castillo

How To Read Now is an interesting collection of essays about reading books, reading films, reading art and reading the world in a way that makes us better humans. 

This is a book on readership that is itself a series of readings.

“Despite its searching quality, How to Read Now approaches reading as a political act that implicates everyone,” Jane Hu said in a review for The New York Times.

To be a good reader, Castillo suggests, means being open to the different readings of other people, perhaps especially those you disagree with.

“None of this work is meant to be done alone,” she writes.

“Critical reading is not meant to be work performed solely by readers and writers of color.”

Despite its declarative title, “How to Read Now” is not so much an instruction manual as an earnest invitation — “a question, open-ended,” she writes. “I, too, want to know how to read now.”

America Is Not the Heart is Castillo’s first novel.

She is a graduate of the University of California – Berkeley.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘How Birds Evolve’

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Updated 05 January 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘How Birds Evolve’

“How Birds Evolve” explores how evolution has shaped the distinctive characteristics and behaviors we observe in birds today.

Douglas Futuyma describes how evolutionary science illuminates the wonders of birds, ranging over topics such as the meaning and origin of species, the evolutionary history of bird diversity, and the evolution of avian reproductive behaviors, plumage ornaments, and social behaviors.

In this multifaceted book, Futuyma examines how birds evolved from nonavian dinosaurs and reveals what we can learn from the “family tree” of birds.

 


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Those Barren Leaves’

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Updated 05 January 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Those Barren Leaves’

Author: Aldous Huxley

Aldous Huxley’s “Those Barren Leaves,” first published in 1925, is a sharp and satirical novel that dissects the pretensions, disillusionments and spiritual emptiness of Europe’s post-First World War intelligentsia.

Set in a luxurious villa in Italy, the novel brings together an eclectic group of characters whose philosophical musings and existential crises form the basis of Huxley’s incisive critique of modernity and culture.

The story revolves around a gathering of wealthy, educated and self-absorbed individuals, including Mrs. Aldwinkle, the owner of the villa and a patron of the arts; Calamy, a romantic aristocrat; and Chelifer, an idealistic poet grappling with his disillusionment. Each character represents a different facet of the intellectual elite, embodying both their allure and their absurdity.

Through their interactions, Huxley exposes the hollowness behind their intellectual posturing and their struggles to find meaning in a world that seems increasingly fragmented and purposeless.

Huxley’s prose is elegant and often biting, filled with sharp observations and wit that make his satire entertaining and thought-provoking. The dialogue crackles with intellectual energy, as the characters debate art, love, philosophy, and the meaning of life.

However, their conversations often reveal more about their own insecurities and contradictions than they do about the subjects they discuss. This duality — the brilliance of their intellects contrasted with the emptiness of their souls — is at the heart of Huxley’s critique.

Beneath the satire, “Those Barren Leaves” grapples with serious themes, including the decline of traditional values, the search for spiritual fulfillment, and the tension between individuality and conformity.

These themes, although specific to the post-war context of the 1920s, remain relevant today, offering a timeless exploration of humanity’s quest for meaning in an increasingly materialistic and secular world.

Yet, the novel is not without its challenges. Its focus on intellectual discourse and philosophical reflection can make it feel dense at times, and the characters, while vividly drawn, are often unsympathetic.

The author’s portrayal of their flaws is so unflinching that it may alienate readers looking for emotional resonance or traditional storytelling. However, for those who appreciate incisive social commentary and richly layered prose, “Those Barren Leaves” is a rewarding read.

Huxley’s ability to combine satire with profound philosophical inquiry elevates the novel, making it a fascinating study of the human condition. While it may not carry the dystopian weight of his later work, “Brave New World,” it offers a glimpse into the evolution of his thought and the concerns that would shape his career.

In “Those Barren Leaves,” Huxley holds up a mirror to his era’s intellectual elite, revealing their triumphs, failures, and unrelenting search for purpose. It is a novel that challenges, provokes and ultimately compels readers to reflect on the complexities of modern existence, offering critique and insight with a mastery that is uniquely Huxley.

 


What We Are Reading Today: The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

Updated 04 January 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer

“The Wishing Game” is a charming mix of playfulness, emotion, and nostalgia, according to PrincetonBookReview.com.

The book takes readers to the magical Clock Island, where the boundaries between made-up stories and real life are fuzzy, creating an atmosphere of whimsical fun and intrigue.

Lucy, a woman on a quest for meaning in her life, is easy to relate to and instantly likable. Her bond with Christopher, a young boy full of promise, forms the story’s heart, drawing readers in with its emotional depth.


What We Are Reading Today: South Sudan: The Untold Story

Updated 04 January 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: South Sudan: The Untold Story

Author: Hilde F. Johnson

South Sudan was granted independence and became the world’s newest country. Yet just two-and-a-half years after this momentous decision, the country was in the grips of renewed civil war and political strife.  

In this book, Hilde F. Johnson provides an unparalleled insider’s account of South Sudan’s descent from the ecstatic celebrations of July 2011 to the outbreak of the disastrous conflict in December 2013 and the early, bloody phase of the fighting.

Johnson’s personal and private contacts at the highest levels of government, accompanied by her deep knowledge of the country and its history, make this a unique eyewitness account of the turbulent first three years of the world’s newest – and yet most fragile – country.


What We Are Reading Today: ‘Friction’ by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing

Updated 03 January 2025
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What We Are Reading Today: ‘Friction’ by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing

Anthropologist Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing challenges the widespread view that globalization invariably signifies a clash of cultures, developing friction as a metaphor for the diverse and conflicting social interactions that make up our contemporary world.

Focusing on the social drama of the Indonesian rainforests in the 1980s and 1990s, she shows how a host of competing interests—from environmentalists and North American investors to advocates for Brazilian rubber tappers, international funding agencies, and village elders—are drawn into unpredictable, messy misunderstandings, but misunderstandings that sometimes work out.