For this second set of Links, here (as ever in no particular order) are some of the blogs I read regularly, when I’m not, y’know, blogging, working on book three, hanging with the boys, or trying to juggle those other couple dozen balls floating up there:
1) American Literary Blog: It’s true that Rob Velella graciously both guest-posted here and allowed me to do the same on his blog. But it’s also true that I would need no quid pro quo to recommend this diverse, engaging, always informative (almost-) daily blog on 19th century American literature and culture.
2) No Category: Yes, fine, Mike Parker is another of my guest posters and my most frequent commenter here. But if you’re once again insinuating that these links have somehow been bought and paid for, well, you’re once again mistaken. Mike’s blog has only been around for a few months, but with its uniformly thoughtful and provocative takes on the complexities of 21st century adult life, it’s already one of my go-to reads.
3) Ta-Nehisi Coates: TNC (as the blogosphere calls him) is one of the most talented writers and most nuanced thinkers I’ve read in a good while. That he’s also a pitch-perfect AmericanStudier, equally adept at analyzing the Civil War and hip hop, Jane Austen and contemporary politics, makes him an even more ideal link for this blog.
4) Joe Posnanski: To say that Joe is just a sportswriter would be the equivalent of calling Hendrix just a guitarist; not only not accurate to the range and depth of talent, but also failing to see how much power and passion and perfection each man can achieve within his chosen vocation. The posts on Joe’s two daughters are the most moving, but most everything the man writes is guaranteed to hit you on some level.
5) Paul Krugman and Robert Reich: Say what you will about the perils of the internet (and I’m likely to agree with much of what you say), but in what other moment would we Americans and citizens of the world have near-daily access to two of the most accomplished and impressive economic thinkers and writers of our era, one a Nobel Prize winner, the other a long-time Cabinet official, both vital voices in assessing the state of our nation and world? I’m not saying I necessarily would have enjoyed reading Alexander Hamilton’s blog, but it would have been cool to have the chance—and with these guys, we do!
6) (Pre-)Conference Conversations: This blog has only been around for a week, but already I can tell that … ah, who am I kidding? This is the one link here that has indeed been bought and paid for, but only by my effort and the efforts of my fellow NEASA Council-mate Jonathan Silverman. Our first four pre-conference posts are up, as is my first week’s recap and open thread—all offer chances to share your own AmericanStudies voice and ideas, perspective and interests. Check it out, and if you don’t like it, you’ll get every cent of your money back!
If and when you feel as if you need more to read than just AmericanStudies—and I’ll understand, I suppose—all six of these are well worth your time. Enjoy, and, y’know, feel free to pimp this blog while you’re there! More next week,
Ben
PS. Any favorite blogs or other websites you’d share?
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