Author: wildsoundwritingfestival

The measure of a culture is what its people read or watch, which provides some insight into what they actually think about. As the year 2019 comes to a close it invites the question: what did people think about in 2019? What were they curious about? We can, of course, ask that another way that […]… Continue reading What Were the Most Popular Wikipedia Articles of 2019? — Atkins Bookshelf

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language” wrote the poet T. S. Eliot, “and next year’s words await another voice.” To that observation, we can add: this past year’s words also define the language, the conversations, or more accurately, the zeitgeist of the year. Each year, editors of major dictionaries review the stats… Continue reading Word of the Year 2019 — Atkins Bookshelf

The measure of a culture is what its people read or watch, which provides some insight into what they actually think about. As the year 2019 comes to a close it invites the question: what did people think about in 2019? What were they curious about? We can, of course, ask that another way that […]… Continue reading What Were the Most Popular Wikipedia Articles of 2019? — Atkins Bookshelf

During Jane Austen’s lifetime (1775-1817), her novels were published anonymously and although they were generally well-received, they were not runaway bestsellers. It was only after her death that her popularity grew dramatically. Sigh — the stereotypical life of the struggling artist. Today, of course, her novels are considered classics and Austen remains one of the… Continue reading The Best Books About Jane Austen: 2020 — Atkins Bookshelf

We live in the Google Era, where information comes so fast, it’s like drinking out of a fire hose. That information overload combined with the prevalence of apps like Twitter and TikTok has dramatically decreased the reader’s attention span to 144 characters or 15 seconds — whichever comes first. With that kind of an attention […]… Continue reading When You Don’t Have Time to Read the Classics: Moby Dick — Atkins Bookshelf

“Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations. Books, the oldest and the best, stand naturally and rightfully on the shelves of every cottage. They have no cause of their own to plead, but while they enlighten and sustain the reader his common sense will not refuse […]… Continue reading Books Are the Treasured Wealth of the World — Atkins Bookshelf

What better way to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day than to attend a lecture by Cornel West, discussing democracy, justice, and race. West, like Noam Chomsky, is a public intellectual, philosopher, social critic, and political activist. He graduated from Harvard College magna cum laude with a degree in Near Eastern languages and civilization. He […]… Continue reading The Wisdom of Cornel West — Atkins Bookshelf

Dedicated book lovers have a profound respect for books. On one level, they appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship that has gone into producing a beautifully designed book. In this respect, it is no different than any piece of art. It can be seen and held. On another level, it represents an intellectual or fantastic journey; […]… Continue reading Things That Annoy Book Lovers — Atkins Bookshelf

One of the most pervasive myths of modern culture is that in order to succeed you need to attend an exclusive private college where an undergraduate degree can cost up to $350,000 — and in some cases, close to $500,000. The fact is, most families cannot afford that. More than 54% of students in the […]… Continue reading The Value of Self-Education: Following in the Footsteps of the Ancient Greeks — Atkins Bookshelf

At his eightieth birthday celebration, Robert Frost, America’s most famous poet, and winner of four Pulitzer Prizes, was asked: “In all your years and all your travels, what do you think is the most important thing you’ve learned about life?” He paused for just a moment, then replied: ‘’In three words, I can sum up… Continue reading What is the Most Important Lesson in Life? – Robert Frost — Atkins Bookshelf