From The Hedgehog Review, Richard Wolin (CUNY): Reflections on the Crisis in the Humanities; Richard Sennett (NYU): Humanism; and Michael Bess (Vanderbilt): Blurring the Boundary Between “Person” and “Product”: Human Genetic Technologies through the Year 20601. From Dissent, Zelda Bronstein on politics’ fatal therapeutic turn (and a response by Marshall Ganz and a reply). From LARB, a review of books on steampunk. The Age of Mechanical Reproduction: When it comes to IVF, in-vitro fertilization, nothing is normal — your world is upside-down, your doctor compliments your wife on her monkeys. The making of the world's most notorious leaker: Alexis Madrigal on Bradley Manning, the person. Extended travel — going way beyond the family vacation — is part of a post 9/11, post Eat Pray Love effect: Families sell the house, pull the kids from school and go, looking for more togetherness, an escape from stress, and a global education. The trouble with Harry (Potter): Religious conservatives do have something to fear. A review of The Inner Lives of Medieval Inquisitors by Karen Sullivan. Is it a noble instinct or a destructive desire? Sally Feldman delves into the pathology of collecting. Read my lisp: Is Michele Bachmann's husband gay? Don't trust gaydar to settle the question. The Light Fantastic: Streetlights are about to change the color of night — for the better. The history of Ocean Hill-Brownsville serves as a warning against community as a political principle. From NYRB, Marcia Angell on the illusions of psychiatry — a review essay. What may begin as a temporary method to circumvent reasoned discussion and debate for the sake of a prized political goal may very well end up permanently undermining the trust required for its existence.
