1. Identity Economics: How Our Identities Shape our Work, Wages, and Well-Being, by George Akerlof and Rachel Kranton. There's a general question of how satisfying largely non-empirical treatments of this topic can be, but still the original papers behind this popular book are seminal.
2. Paul Collier, The Plundered Planet: Why We Must — and How We Can — Manage Nature for Global Prosperity. The book is not due out until May, yet I have a review copy. I admired Collier's essay on the ethical dimension of global warming, and I loved his The Bottom Billion, but I struggled to find a meaty part of this book.
3. Joan Schenkar, The Talented Miss Highsmith: The Secret Life and Serious Art of Patricia Highsmith. I can't recall having read a more sprawling, messy, obsessive, and personal biography than this one. Here's a typical bit: "Still, this fan, who knew all about cats, was allowed to select a seal-point Siamese kitten for Pat, and he and his aunt sometimes looked after Pat's cats on her trips away. One night — the circumstances were complicated and involved a fight with current lover, Jacqui — Pat ended up sleeping in the aunt's bed, where, for once, Pat herself was on the receiving end of an unwelcome sexual advance."
I don't think I can read it through to the end, but still I wish to issue a yelp of approval. By the way, she kept 300 snails as pets. Read the first Amazon review. This biography did cause me to order more of her work, namely the first novel, with the lesbian love story. Here is an NYT review of the book, which is in any case unique and revelatory.
I've been reading, and putting down, lots of other books. I've also been reading the complete letters of van Gogh, for a longer review. They are splendid.
Tyler, I wonder if based on Collier’s book you can discuss this sentence
“By and large, we do not pay for any of this: our economics does not, for the most part, include paying for nature.”
that Olivia Judson wrote in her NYT column a few days ago. I think she’s wrong but I’d like to read some recent book or paper on this.
Further to my earlier comment, I have just read a NYT column written by Jared Diamond (published on 12/6) in which he acknowledges–to his surprise–that business people respond to incentives and therefore they don’t waste natural resources. I could not, however, finish reading the column. He was not going to miss the opportunity to repeat the gospel according to John Holdren!!!
Who wants not lead a healthier life? Obviously everyone. Most important part of our healthier living is healthy food. I think naturals are always better than other. So, I like to be stick with any type of natural food not only milk. I believe the most important part of our healthier living is healthier food.
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