FiveBooks Newsletter 58

Today we invited Middle East scholar Marc Lynch to discuss the [5]origins of
the Arab uprising. He says, “The term ‘Arab Spring’ is about as useful as
you’d expect from something that suggests spring begins in December.”
Links:
5. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/marc-lynch-on-origins-arab-uprising

Also on the site this week, political blogger [6]Matthew Yglesias picks
books about progressivism, [7]Dominic Lawson talks chess, and former CIA
operative [8]Robert Baer explains why the politicians didn’t listen to the
intelligence in Iraq.
Links:
6. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/matthew-yglesias-on-influences-progressive-blogger
7. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/dominic-lawson-on-chess
8. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/robert-baer-on-being-spy

Next week, look out for book recommendations on great letter writers,
American food, debunking the paranormal and the end of the West. Thanks for
reading!

FiveBooks News

[9]Marc Lynch on Origins of the Arab Uprising
Links:
9. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/marc-lynch-on-origins-arab-uprising

Friday August 5

The Middle East scholar tells us what to read if we’re to understand where
upheaval in the Arab world came from, and where it’s going [10]Continue
reading…
Links:
10. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/marc-lynch-on-origins-arab-uprising

[11]Dominic Lawson on Chess
Links:
11. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/dominic-lawson-on-chess

Thursday August 4

You don’t have to be a genius to play chess, but it helps. The journalist
tells us about the logical beauty of the game, its history and political
context, and the lives and minds of its greatest masters [12]Continue
reading…
Links:
12. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/dominic-lawson-on-chess

[13]Robert Baer on Being a Spy
Links:
13. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/robert-baer-on-being-spy

Wednesday August 3

The former CIA operative lifts the lid on the reality of spying. He says the
intelligence service knew there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq
before the war, but politicians and reporters didn’t listen [14]Continue
reading…
Links:
14. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/robert-baer-on-being-spy

[15]Andrei Codrescu on Fantastical Tales
Links:
15. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/andrei-codrescu-on-fantastic-and-magical-tales

Tuesday August 2

The Romanian-born poet tells us about his love for fantastic and magical
tales – particularly bloody ones with cannibalism, necrophilia and alienated
heroes [16]Continue reading…
Links:
16. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/andrei-codrescu-on-fantastic-and-magical-tales

[17]Helen Dillon on Gardening
Links:
17. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/helen-dillon-on-garden

Monday August 1

The gardening expert recommends five books that have influenced her, from
300 year old gardening tips to the difficulty of describing flowers
[18]Continue reading…
Links:
18. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/helen-dillon-on-garden

[19]Matthew Yglesias on Influences on a Progressive Blogger
Links:
19. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/matthew-yglesias-on-influences-progressive-blogger

Sunday July 31

The prominent left wing blogger tells us what books have shaped his
worldview. He explains why America needs to wake up to the forces preventing
change, and better understand the root causes of its political deadlock
[20]Continue reading…
Links:
20. http://thebrowser.com/interviews/matthew-yglesias-on-influences-progressive-blogger

[21]Occasional Dispatches From The Republic Of Anhedonia
Links:
21. http://b.rw/pE1sde

Colson Whitehead | Grantland | 27 July 2011

Ignore the off-putting title. Thoroughly entertaining story of journalist
entering World Series of Poker. Sports writing at its best. Starts off with
the immortal line: "I have a good poker face because I am half-dead inside"
[22]More like this
Links:
22. http://thebrowser.com/browsings