From Monthly Review, Michael Lebowitz, author of Beyond Capital: Marx's Political Economy of the Working Class, on new wings for socialism, and from Radical Notes, a review of Lebowitz's Build it Now: Socialism for the Twenty-First Century. From Commentary, a review of Freedom's Power: The True Force of Liberalism by Paul Starr; a review of Milton Friedman: A Biography by Lanny Ebenstein.
From The New Criterion (make sure to read the print versions), Roger Kimball on Hayek & the intellectuals, Harvey Mansfield reviews Hugh Brogan’s Alexis de Tocqueville: A Life, and a review of Frederick Kagan’s The End of the Old Order: Napoleon & Europe, 1801-1805. A review of A History of the English-Speaking Peoples Since 1900 by Andrew Roberts. From The American Conservative, The War Party: Republicans’ traditional defense of life, families, and limited government takes a backseat to defending Bush; Llewellyn H. Rockwell Jr. on Sic Semper Tyrannis; and can Bush be trusted with the power to declare martial law? Can Hillary? Harvey Mansfield on The Case for the Strong Executive: Under some circumstances, the rule of law must yield to the need for energy. More and more on Rumsfeld: His Rise, Fall, and Catastrophic Legacy By Andrew Cockburn by Andrew Cockburn.
From Secular Web, a review of The Hidden Face of God: How Science Reveals The Ultimate Truth; an article on atheism in the Third Millennium, Sean M. Carroll on why (almost all) cosmologists are atheists. Christopher Orlet on a sectarian split among atheists. From Radar, an interview with Christopher Hitchens, Godless provocateur. From Christianity Today, a review of God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything; and fertility, faith, and the future of the West: A conversation with Phillip Longman.
From The Philosopher's Magazine, Stephen Law on optimism, reason and progress. Something earth-changing is afoot among civil society — a significant social movement is eluding the radar of mainstream culture. There’s an apocalyptic vibe in the zeitgeist, and it’s not hard to imagine how the technological sophistication that got us to the brink of global civilization could be our undoing.
A review of With Speed and Violence: Why Scientists Fear Tipping Points in Climate Change. From Seed, a look at how climate change is heating up Arctic geopolitics, as sea passage grows easier and natural gas resources beckon. Desertification is not unstoppable, but containing its spread will require massive international efforts and cost trillions of dollars. From Mother Jones, early girls, Dolly Partons, and the attack of the California tomatoes: On eating locally and debunking the Red-Blue divide. A review of Poop Culture: How America Is Shaped by Its Grossest National Product.
