Books

393 results
Page 31
Erotica goes mainstream in “Fifty Shades of Grey” (© 2014 - Universal Pictures)

Philadelphia's Erotic Literary Salon

Forbidden words

With the release of Fifty Shades of Grey, everyone’s talking about sex, even if they haven’t seen the movie. At the Erotic Literary Salon, writers have been talking about sex for years.
Naomi Orwin

Naomi Orwin

Articles 5 minute read
The theater of authentic encounters

'Impromptu Man: J.L. Moreno and the Origins of Psychodrama'

Theater as interpersonal encounter and spontaneous experience

This fascinating book about psychodrama founder J.L. Moreno written by his son, Penn professor Jonathan D. Moreno, covers many aspects of 20th-century life and thought, including improvisational theater. Although the book bears a great deal on the fields of psychology, psychiatry, and self-help/personal growth, this review highlights Moreno’s contributions to theater and dramaturgy.
Victor L. Schermer

Victor L. Schermer

Articles 5 minute read

Steven Pressfield's 'War of Art'

Battling the demons of Resistance

The title of The War of Art, a little book on how to break through creative blocks and finish projects, is apt because author Steven Pressfield doesn’t pull any punches.

Michael Lawrence

Articles 4 minute read
Stone’s characters were drawn forth and succored by darkness and nightmare. (Photo © Larry D. Moore via Creative Commons/Wikimedia)

A flag for Robert Stone

Remembering novelist Robert Stone, who died on January 10.
Bob Levin

Bob Levin

Articles 2 minute read
Do people really change? (Photo via pbs.org)

'Death Comes to Pemberley'

Using Austen's characters for nefarious purposes

Phyllis Dorothy James died recently at the age of 94. While her most recent book was a murder mystery based on Pride and Prejudice, she is better served if you remember her for all the work that went before.
Naomi Orwin

Naomi Orwin

Articles 5 minute read
Sweetness of life

'The Sweetness of Life' by Paulus Hochgatterer

The dread that arises from winter darkness

It’s not a holiday thought, but let’s consider briefly the matter of crushing heads.
Rick Soisson

Rick Soisson

Articles 3 minute read
Wilson's Grimm, ©1999 Cottage Classics and S. Clay Wilson

S. Clay Wilson's ABC

A left turn in Lawrence

The work of underground artist S. Clay Wilson has been compared to Breughel’s and has hung in museums beside Bosch. An alphabet series connected with his illustrations of Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm has just been published.
Bob Levin

Bob Levin

Articles 4 minute read
Tennessee Williams

John Lahr's biography of Tennessee Williams

Rethinking the life and work of Tennessee Williams

After enduring youthful austerity, Tennessee Williams sought relief from his suffering through chaotic sexual liaisons and cravings for admiration, alcohol, and drugs. Yet, at his best, he was able to use his inner conflicts to create dramatic works that transformed the American theater and cinema. The characters in his plays, as John Lahr takes pains to show, were mirrors of what was going on inside him.
Victor L. Schermer

Victor L. Schermer

Articles 6 minute read
Peggy Lee and Paul Whiteman on his radio show in 1947.

'Is That All There Is? The Strange Life of Peggy Lee' by James Gavin

A showbiz legend and a piece of work

Painstakingly researched and beautifully written, Is That All There Is? is at times touching, sad, disturbing, and hilarious. Just like Peggy Lee.
Bruce Klauber

Bruce Klauber

Articles 3 minute read
B'rith Sholom children en route to America, 1939: The 'ordinary' Krauses (center) seized their moment.

Two in-laws confront Hitler

Ordinary people, extraordinary responses (and vice versa)

When your moment of truth comes, how will you respond? Two books published this year portray diametrically opposite responses to the greatest crisis of the 20th century.
Dan Rottenberg

Dan Rottenberg

Articles 6 minute read