The American Scholar - Winter 2008





Melvin Bukiet takes aim
at Brooklyn Books of Wonder
Gorman Beauchamp calls for no more apologies
Find “Genome Tome,” our National Magazine Award-winning feature story
Read our essay in
Best American Essays: “Teaching the N-Word,”
by Emily Bernard
Let us know what you
think: scholar@pbk.org

From the Current Issue



Passing the Torch

Why the eons-old truce between humans and fire has burst
into an age of megafires, and what can be done about it


By Stephen J. Pyne


The Olympics traditionally open with a fire ceremony. A torch kindled by
natural sources (the sun reflects off a mirror onto the torch), and hence
a pure fire, is passed from Olympia, the site of the ancient games, to
wherever the modern games are to take place. Last year, nature seemed
determined to return the gesture, as record-shattering blazes swept over
Greece and even reached the ruins of Olympia itself.





Nick Bromell
follows Frederick
Douglass down the
path from emotion
to liberal principle


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After a mother's
death, Janna
Malamud Smith
explores life
as a castaway


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Brian Boyd
tells us why
reading is
both an art
and a science


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Web exclusive:
Brian Doyle
meets the
Marvelous
Marvin Hagler


Read More...


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