I sometimes walk into my office, look around at the thousands of books on the walls, and think to myself, "You're going to die without ever reading most of those."
As I've gotten older--a professor at a small, teaching-intensive liberal arts college, where (I've admitted to myself) I'm never going to become a famous scholar churning out monographs--I've come to worry a little less about systematic, intentional reading. There are so many wonderful books out there, including so many I've never even heard of, that as long as I just keep reading, even allowing myself to get sidetracked, I'm sure to discover interesting and enjoyable things and to keep learning.
About your FFF's: I still think that every serious person should have at least one print magazine subscription. (And seeing it arrive in the mail is one of life's great joys!)
Oh, my. Just as I have too many books, I get too many magazines. Once I start listing them, I'll forget things. And of course it depends on one's interests. My field is political theory, so the things that come to mind first for me are about politics and current events. When I was young, I cut my teeth on National Review, which is still a good conservative publication. The Atlantic is good, fairly centrist, with good long-form journalism. I'm not actually sure what the best choice would be on the left these days; when I was younger, certainly The New Republic, but they ran into problems and I haven't actually read them recently. Maybe The Nation (farther left)? But there are so many interesting ones out there (more of them on the right than the left, really). City Journal has good policy analysis; National Affairs is only a quarterly but has a good mix of policy writing and more philosophical pieces. For global news reporting, The Economist is excellent. For international politics, Foreign Affairs is the best. For those wanting a religious angleon public life, First Things or Commonweal are good. Or Comment (also only a quarterly).
In literature and the arts, a good book review is valuable. I subscribe to TLS. The New Criterion publishes some good writing. I also enjoy looking at World Literature Today. There's a UK publication called History Today that is good for history buffs. The New Yorker can be hit-and-miss but publishes some interesting longer articles.
Those reflect my own interests, though. When I was younger, I'd have always gotten a sports publication as well, but I no longer have time for that now.
Wow, thank you for that list. I have had digital trials and occasional subscriptions to some of these — or I read “one off” articles online. It’s been ages since I subscribed to a print magazine. I do remember visiting my in-laws who always had a pile on their coffee table, and one could definitely pick them up and browse for hours. (And not be on a screen!!)
I sometimes walk into my office, look around at the thousands of books on the walls, and think to myself, "You're going to die without ever reading most of those."
As I've gotten older--a professor at a small, teaching-intensive liberal arts college, where (I've admitted to myself) I'm never going to become a famous scholar churning out monographs--I've come to worry a little less about systematic, intentional reading. There are so many wonderful books out there, including so many I've never even heard of, that as long as I just keep reading, even allowing myself to get sidetracked, I'm sure to discover interesting and enjoyable things and to keep learning.
About your FFF's: I still think that every serious person should have at least one print magazine subscription. (And seeing it arrive in the mail is one of life's great joys!)
What would be your top picks for that one print magazine?
Oh, my. Just as I have too many books, I get too many magazines. Once I start listing them, I'll forget things. And of course it depends on one's interests. My field is political theory, so the things that come to mind first for me are about politics and current events. When I was young, I cut my teeth on National Review, which is still a good conservative publication. The Atlantic is good, fairly centrist, with good long-form journalism. I'm not actually sure what the best choice would be on the left these days; when I was younger, certainly The New Republic, but they ran into problems and I haven't actually read them recently. Maybe The Nation (farther left)? But there are so many interesting ones out there (more of them on the right than the left, really). City Journal has good policy analysis; National Affairs is only a quarterly but has a good mix of policy writing and more philosophical pieces. For global news reporting, The Economist is excellent. For international politics, Foreign Affairs is the best. For those wanting a religious angleon public life, First Things or Commonweal are good. Or Comment (also only a quarterly).
In literature and the arts, a good book review is valuable. I subscribe to TLS. The New Criterion publishes some good writing. I also enjoy looking at World Literature Today. There's a UK publication called History Today that is good for history buffs. The New Yorker can be hit-and-miss but publishes some interesting longer articles.
Those reflect my own interests, though. When I was younger, I'd have always gotten a sports publication as well, but I no longer have time for that now.
Wow, thank you for that list. I have had digital trials and occasional subscriptions to some of these — or I read “one off” articles online. It’s been ages since I subscribed to a print magazine. I do remember visiting my in-laws who always had a pile on their coffee table, and one could definitely pick them up and browse for hours. (And not be on a screen!!)
It's not too late for you to emulate your in-laws. ; )
Although perhaps my own list suggests that I have not yet gotten my reading under control.
Ugh I need to read more immediately.