There’s a famous moment in the classic ‘nineties movie A Few Good Men when a military leader, played by Jack Nicholson, screams “You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth!” As much as that character is an antagonist in the film, he hit on something true. We all say we want openness, honesty, and … Continue reading Wisdom IN Literature: The Nimbus on the Uncanny and Transcendent
Every now and then, when I have a couple weeks to spare in between series, I take the opportunity to talk about books, and specifically the spiritual themes in them. As I like to say, as much as a good novel entertains us, it also gives us a window into something true about the human … Continue reading Wisdom IN Literature: Fifteen Dogs on the Tragedy of Human Nature
I'm back from a lovely vacation on the West Coast and settled back into normal routines. This week I'll do my usual roundup of what I've been listening to and reading before taking a look at this year's Booker Prize winner and the idea of literary prizes more generally. Roundup Music While we're still in … Continue reading Culture Roundup (November 15, 2025): On the Booker Winner and Other Thoughts on Prizes
While this will publish according to normal schedule, I've written this a few days early as I'll be on vacation by the time you read this. So, there's only about ten days' worth of content to catch up on. But there's been some great stuff during this time that I can't let go unmentioned here. … Continue reading Culture Roundup (November 1, 2025): Seasonality in Reading
When I wrote the my last culture roundup post, I knew the then brand new Taylor Swift album was going to be polarizing, but I could not have predicted the absolute meltdown it created, especially among her detractors. As much as I'm loath to participate in that sort of content, it's been fascinating to watch … Continue reading Culture Roundup (October 18, 2025): Cozy Reading and Further Thoughts on The Life of a Showgirl (and the pop-cultural firestorm it’s created)
Matthew Root 