FiveBooks Newsletter 45

Last week was full of compelling reading on [1]FiveBooks. Acclaimed science
  writer Carl Zimmer chatted with us about "the strangeness of life", the
  official biographer of Joseph Kennedy told us the remarkable story of the
  Kennedy family, and there was lively discussion of the royal wedding from
  columnist Katie Nicholl and biographer Andrew Morton.
    Links:
      1. http://thebrowser.com/fivebooks

Don't miss today's interview - five books to read about [2]Buddhism - and
  look out for further fantastic reads this week, covering everything from
  electoral reform in Britain to Shakespeare biographies - plus an exclusive
  interview with Woody Allen.
    Links:
      2. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/donald-s-lopez-jr-on-buddhism

Finally, for a chance to win an iPad 2, complete our reader survey and tell
  us exactly what you think of TheBrowser. To take part, [3]click here.
    Links:
      3. http://b.rw/ktRg9G

Thanks for reading!

FiveBooks News

[4]John Thorn on Baseball
    Links:
      4. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/john-thorn-on-baseball

Monday April 25th

The Official Historian for Major League Baseball explains how America’s
  national pastime has been culturally transformative, even radicalising, and
  highlights the five best books about the game [5]Continue reading…
    Links:
      5. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/john-thorn-on-baseball

[6]Tarek Osman on the Arab World
    Links:
      6. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/tarek-osman-on-arab-world

Monday April 26th

The Egyptian author and journalist discusses Egypt’s past and present and
  the main issues facing the post-revolutionary Arab world [7]Continue
  reading…
    Links:
      7. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/tarek-osman-on-arab-world

[8]David Nasaw on The Kennedys
    Links:
      8. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/david-nasaw-on-kennedys

Wednesday April 27th

Authorised biographer of Joseph P Kennedy talks us through the Kennedy
  generations – and insists he won’t be watching the controversial new TV
  series about the family [9]Continue reading…
    Links:
      9. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/david-nasaw-on-kennedys

[10]Carl Zimmer on The Strangeness of Life
    Links:
      10. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/carl-zimmer-on-strangeness-life

Thursday April 28th

Journalist, author and award-winning blogger discusses the strangeness of
  life, from viruses to manipulative flatworms [11]Continue reading…
    Links:
      11. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/carl-zimmer-on-strangeness-life

[12]Katie Nicholl on Modern Day Royals
    Links:
      12. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/katie-nicholl-on-modern-day-royals

Friday April 29th

On the day that the second in line to the British throne marries a commoner,
  _The Mail on Sunday_’s Royal Correspondent looks at how the histories of the
  previous generation have shaped Princes William and Harry [13]Continue
  reading…
    Links:
      13. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/katie-nicholl-on-modern-day-royals

[14]Andrew Morton on Royalty
    Links:
      14. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/andrew-morton-on-royalty

Saturday April 30th

Biographer discusses British royalty from the Tudors to the present –
  including his privileged access to Diana and her story [15]Continue
  reading…
    Links:
      15. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/andrew-morton-on-royalty

[16]Uses And Abuses Of Happiness
    Links:
      16. http://b.rw/hwg0gG

Will Davies | Open Democracy | 22 April 2011

Ideas of national well-being and happiness have become a central feature of
  British public policy. But the debate confuses four schools of thought:
  Aristotelian philosophy, social statistics, behavioural psychology, and
  self-help

Featured Topic

[17]Russia and the FSU
    Links:
      17. http://thebrowser.com/topics/russia

From the war in Chechnya to the murky depths of the KGB archive. Everything
  you need to know (well, nearly everything) about Russia's past and present

Book of the Week

[18]The Satanic Verses: A Novel by Salman Rushdie
    Links:
      18. http://thebrowser.com/recommended/satanic-versus-novel-by-salman-rushdie

[19]Anthony  Julius  says:  “The Satanic Verses represents a moment of
  liberation  –  the end of the Cold War, but also the inauguration of a
  different kind of struggle”
    Links:
      19. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/anthony-julius-on-censorship

Video of the Week

[20]Keynes vs Hayek Round Two
    Links:
      20. http://thebrowser.com/videos/keynes-vs-hayek-round-two

Same economists. Same beliefs. Same moustaches. New microphones

Quote of the Week

[21]David Foster Wallace, on self-help
    Links:
      21. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/d20a33a2-66e1-11e0-8d88-00144feab49a.html#axzz1JdDA89ZB

"If you are immune to boredom, there is literally nothing you cannot
    accomplish"

Reader Recommendations

_@prospect_uk_  Will  Self:  Support  for  the monarchy is the result of
  brainwashing on an Orwellian scale [22]bit.ly/fSA7u6 [23]#browsings
    Links:
      22. http://bit.ly/fSA7u6
      23. https://twitter.com/search?q=#browsings