From First Principles, an article on the “Higher” Education of Whittaker Chambers: Columbia University, nihilism, and despair. From Slate, an article on the top 10 dumbest sports trends. Rattawut Lapcharoensap reviews David Goldblatt’s The Ball Is Round: A Global History of Soccer. Even hard-core skeptics can't help but find sympathy in the fabric of the universe—and occasionally try to pull its strings. Love and Consequences, the cartoonishly racist faked memoir that duped The New York Times, was quickly yanked off the shelves after it was revealed to be a fake, but here's a copy. From Newsweek, a cover story on The Divorce Generation. An interview with Martin Kihn, author of A$$hole: How I Got Rich and Happy by Not Giving a Damn About Anyone and How You Can Too. Holes in the Earth: At last count, there were more than 170 known impact craters on our planet. A review of The Agnostic Inquirer: Revelation from a Philosophical Standpoint by Sandra Menssen and Thomas Sullivan. The sight of Spain's new Defence Minister inspecting the troops is the most striking sign yet that women are the must-have factor in politics; but is the shift in power real or merely cosmetic? (and more) The age of entitlement: The diverse values and disputes of the baby boomers retain a strong influence on society. A review of On Desire: Why We Want What We Want by William Irvine.
