We are pleased to announce a new regular feature at the blog: our “Critical Connections” series. This series, co-edited by Sara Georgini, Andrew Seal, and I, will draw upon current cultural concerns and conversations to keep readers apprised of new and forthcoming titles in the history of American thought and culture.
The frenetic whipsawing of the news cycle runs at an ultra-high frequency, as one lead story replaces another in sometimes dizzying and disorienting succession. The scholarly rhythms of historical inquiry, on the other hand, tend to have a much longer wavelength, and it’s not always possible for historians to pivot quickly from years’-long projects to bring their expertise to bear on the concerns of the day.
Still, the concerns of the day are all rooted in various pasts, arising from a multiplicity of clashing ideals, desires, circumstances and histories, and as we watch the news cycle roll, we often see fleeting connections between current conversations and crucial scholarly interventions that may have arisen in a different cultural context entirely. Our hope for this series is to help our readers spot the “Critical Connections” between historical scholarship and current events, calling to your attention new titles that may shed new light on old questions, or old light on new questions.
Our Critical Connections posts will be brief and improvisational. They cannot replace the more focused and sustained USIH book reviews, which fall under the editorship of our colleague Robert Greene III. However, we expect to highlight books that are likely to end up in the book review sections of USIH and other electronic and print venues aimed at active scholars and voracious readers.
Watch for our “Critical Connections” posts two to three times per month, and have fun building your library or adding to your must-read list!
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