American Writers (One Hundred Pages at a Time)

H.P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 22: The Lurking Fear

One of my favorite Lovecraft stories, "The Lurking Fear" explores heredity, immigration, American history, and race all in the form of an interesting mystery tale.

Episode 408:John Kenneth Galbraith: Thew New Industrial State (2)

Part two of my review of THE NEW INDUSTRIAL STATE by John Kenneth Galbraith. Here he digs deep into the workings of the "technostructure" and makes an interesting contrast with planning in the socialist states of the time.

H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 21: The Hound

Another interesting story by H. P. Lovecraft, "The Hound" is about art and its impact on searchers who become grave-robbers to satisfy their curiosity.

Episode 407:John Kenneth Galbraith: The New Industrial State (1)

The U.S. economy is planned. But don't take my word for it. John Kenneth Galbraith laid it all out in THE NEW INDUSTRIAL STATE. Here are my thoughts on the first 100 pages of that book.

H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 20: The Unnamable

The "Unnamable" is a great little horror story that includes a philosophical discussion about the nature of terror. A bit on the known unknowns of common knowledge and the limits of official narratives.

Episode 406:John Kenneth Galbraith: The Affluent Society (2)

Part two of my review of THE AFFLUENT SOCIETY by John Kenneth Galbraith. This part of the book explores the consequences of affluence and present Galbraith's policy recommendations about how to restore a public sphere.

H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 19: Azathoth and What the Moon Brings

In this episode, I look at a story fragment ("Azathoth") and very short complete story ("What the Moon Brings"). Both are experiments in cosmic horror and the stories share similar themes.

Episode 405: John Kenneth Galbraith: The Affluent Society (1)

Part one of my review of THE AFFLUENT SOCIETY by John Kenneth Galbraith. This book remains relevant in our conversations about post-scarcity and the lack of balance between public and private spending.

H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 18: Herbert West: Reanimator (2)

Part 2 of my review of Herbert West: Reanimator, covering parts 4-6.

H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 18: Herbert West: Renaimator (1)

Re-uploaded.

Part one of my review and analysis of HERBERT WEST: REANIMATOR by H. P. Lovecraft. One of my favorite Lovecraft stories. Watch as I become convinced of a theory about the narrator over the course of my reading.

H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 17: Hypnos

A short tale by H. P. Lovecraft, "Hypnos" involved an unreliable narrator exploring his dreams with an unknown associate. A nice contrast to some of the more optimistic dreamer stories.

Episode 404: John Kenneth Galbraith: The Great Crash (2)

So the second half of Galbraith's book called THE GREAT CRASH is about the impact of the 1929 crash on American life.
Overall a good survey of the causes of the crash itself, it not the best on the structural causes of the Depression.

H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 16: The Music of Erich Zann

A great short story by H. P. Lovecraft, "The Music of Erich Zann" is one of his first to take seriously the power of art and the tendency of art in the 20th century to move toward the bizarre. Is it a commentary on musical modernism? Or just a good horror tale?

Episode 403: John Kenneth Galbraith: The Great Crash (1)

The economist John Kenneth Galbraith wrote this very interesting book about a famous airplane disaster. Here are my thoughts on the first half of this book.

H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 15: The Other Gods

A short story by H. P. Lovecraft, "The Other Gods" explores humanity's hubris at thinking they can understand the universe. These Other Gods will be explored in more depth in THE DREAMQUEST OF UNKNOWN KADATH.

Episode 402: John Kenneth Galbraith: American Capitalism (2)

Part two of my review of AMERICAN CAPITALISM by John Kenneth Galbraith. In the second half of this slim book we get into specific examples of counterveiling power through labor unions, cooperatives, government, and other forces.

H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 14: The Outsider

"The Outsider" is a well-known tale by H. P. Lovecraft, probably due to its psychological dimension. One of his best works of short fiction, to be sure, even if not one of my favorites.

Episode 401: John Kenneth Galbraith: American Capitalism, Part 1

This episode begins a new series looking at the works of John Kenneth Galbraith. We begin with AMERICAN CAPITALISM, a book exploring the concept of "countervailing power" and how the size of firms undermines classical economics.

H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 13: The Moon-Bog

"The Moon-Bog" by Lovecraft may reminds us of "The Rats in the Wall' with its European setting and castle restoration subplot, but the story has its unique ideas, especially with the relationship between the workers and the castle owner, a relationship to water, and cultists of a sort.

H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 12: The Quest of Iranon

"The Quest of Iranon" is a dreamlands story with (possibly) a dreamer from within the dreamlands themselves. It also works as a nice allegory for modernity, art, and celebrity.

Episode 400: Francis Parkman: Montcalm and Wolfe (6)

No Lovecraft this Wednesday. Instead I will put an end to this Parkman series with the finale of MONTCALM AND WOLFE. Lots to perhaps say in summation about New France, the French and Indian Wars, and my insanity for doing this project. But, let's not.
Next up, John Kenneth Galbraith's still relevant writings.

Episode 399: Francis Parkman: Montcalm and Wolfe (5)

Part 5 of my review of MONTCALM AND WOLFE by Francis Parkman. In this episode we explore the invasion of Canada and the emergence of Wolfe as a commander.

H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 11: The Nameless City

In "The Nameless City" we see Lovecraft sending an explorer into an ancient, pre-human city. While these themes would be explore in more depth in AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS, this story remains a classic and not only because it introduces the "Mad Arab" Abdul Alhazred.

Episode 398: Francis Parkman: Montcalm and Wolfe (4)

In this fourth part of my review of MONTCALM AND WOLFE by Francis Parkman, we look at some major battled of the French and Indian War included the siege of Louisbourg (again), the rise of General Wolfe, and the setting for the invasion of Canada.

H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 10: The Picture in the House

One of my favorite Lovecraft stories, "The Picture in the House" is about the sea, the horrors of Atlantic history, and the legacy of ancient beliefs and traditions.

Episode 397: Francis Parkman: Montcalm and Wolfe (3)

Part three of my review of MONTCALM AND WOLFE by Francis Parkman. In this section we witness campaigning in the frontier and the Hudson Valley, the rise of Montcalm, and the beginning of a global war.

H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 9: Nyarlathotep

A story based on one of Lovecraft's dreams, "Nyarlathotep" provides some interesting ideas on modernity, the threat of ancient traditions, and race while also introducing us to one of his more memorable gods.

Episode 396: Francis Parkman: Montcalm and Wolfe (2)

Two years before the Seven Years War broke out in Europe, Americans were once against fighting each other in the frontier regions between the British colonies and New France. These early losses for Britain are explored in this part of MONTCALM AND WOLFE by Francis Parkman.

H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 8: Ex Oblivione

"Ex Oblivione" by H. P. Lovecraft is a dreamer story about someone trying to escape this world into the realm of dreams, even beyond that to non-existence.

Episode 395: Francis Parkman: Montcalm and Wolfe (1)

FFS, another French and Indian war. Well, in any case we are getting another one as we jump into Francis Parkman's final volume in his massive history of French North America, MONTCALM AND WOLFE. This section covers the roots of the final French and Indian war.

H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 7: From Beyond

This episode is my review of "From Beyond" by H. P. Lovecraft, a story about a scientist trying to find what lies beyond our senses. Made into a good movie.

Episode 394: Francis Parkman: A Half-Century of Conflict (4)

In the final parts of Francis Parkman's A HALF-CENTURY OF CONFLICT we explore the failed peace ending King George's War, ongoing struggles for Acadia, and the siege of Louisbourgh. One more book left, MONTCALM AND WOLFE.

Episode 393: Francis Parkman: A Half Century of Conflict (3)

Part three of my review of A HALF CENTURY OF CONFLICT by Francis Parkman. This episode deals with the build up and origins of King George's War. Who can keep track of all of these French and Indian wars with massive loss of life and few territorial changes? It is as if dying for empire is pointless. 

H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 6: Celaphais

In "Celephais" we have another of Lovecracft's "Dreamlands" stories. This one is about a man who is so isolated in the modern world he seeks fame and adventure in his dreams. Perhaps something about Lovecraft's psychology could be said.

H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 5: The Temple

A U-boat captain during World War I learns about an ancient civilization under the Atlantic Ocean (possibly Atlantis), but never gives up his faith in Prussian supremacy over ignorant peasant Rhinelanders. "The Temple" by H. P. Lovecraft is a study in efficient, effective and decisive leadership.

Episode 392: Francis Parkmam: A Half-Century of Conflict (2)

Queen Anne's War may have ended but the fighting between Britain and France continued in a series of proxy wars using Native American tribes. I talk about this and more in part two of my look at Francis Parkman's A HALF-CENTURY OF CONFLICT.

H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 4: Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and His Family

A short H. P. Lovecraft story with a long title, "Arthur Jermyn" deals with topics such as heredity, exploration, Darwinism, and empire. It is one of my favorite of Lovecraft's early stories.

Episode 391: Francis Parkman: A Half Century of Conflict (1)

In this episode, I start looking at another book by Francis Parkman. In this case it is A HALF-CENTURY OF CONFLICT which looks at the North Americans Wars from the 1690s to 1750s, as well as the many proxy wars fought through Indian societies.

H. P. Lovecraft Book Club: Series 3: Episode 3: The Cats of Ulthar

A nice story by H. P. Lovecraft set in the Dreamlands about mythology, law, witches, gypsies and cats. And all in just a few pages. Highly recommended.

Episode 390: Count Frontenac and New France under Louis XIV (3)

The finale of my review of Francis Parkman's COUNT FRONTENAC AND NEW FRANCE UNDER LOUIS XIV. This section deals with the roots of King William's War and the final years of Frontenac's life and his efforts to subdue the Iroquois and defend Canada from English invasion.