Do what thou Wilt

By: Joshua Glenn

This morning I read Tom Sharpe’s 1976 campus novel, Wilt, because an AbeBooks survey of British readers named it one of the 10 funniest books ever. I was convalescing, and therefore receptive to inspiration. There’s […]

Read This Post

Houdini’s Lament

By: Matthew Battles

Harry Houdini was not only the storied illusionist of memory; in his time he was famous as a debunker of mediums and psychics and as a prolific author as well. In his book The Miracle-Mongers […]

Read This Post

Calligraphy Lesson

By: Matthew Battles

Wong Fei Hung (played by the great Kwan Tak Hing) gives Master Ko a writing lesson. From The Magnificent Butcher (1979), directed by Sammo Hung.

Read This Post

Monogrammed Death

By: Matthew Battles

We’d like to think the L and the B signify Low Brow. But they more likely represent the initials of engraver M. Lucas Brunn, who made this memento mori in Germany around 1600. From the […]

Read This Post

Double Exposure (1)

By: Matthew Battles

Among the photos making the social-media rounds in the aftermath of the Turkish Airlines crash in Amsterdam yesterday was this haunting image: It was posted on Twitter by @Serguei with a caption (in French): “It” […]

Read This Post

Are We Alone – SETI Institute Science Radio

By: Matthew Battles

Among the radio transmissions winging its way to other galaxies from Earth is “Are We Alone,” a program hosted by Seth Shostak of the SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life) Project. Recent topics include “The Emergence […]

Read This Post

The Book Is a Weapon (1)

By: HILOBROW

In the game Clue there’s a library, but no little plastic book to use as a murder weapon. What’s up with that? Should be able to do in Col. Mustard, in the Library, with the […]

Read This Post