Democratic Underground Latest Greatest Lobby Journals Search Options Help Login
Google

Has anybody ever read an entire Lewis Lapham essay?

Printer-friendly format Printer-friendly format
Printer-friendly format Email this thread to a friend
Printer-friendly format Bookmark this thread		 This topic is archived.
Home » Discuss » The DU Lounge Donate to DU
 
Dookus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-19-04 11:01 PM
Original message
Has anybody ever read an entire Lewis Lapham essay?
I love Harpers, but damn, Lapham never misses a chance to use 100 words when one would suffice.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
ScreamingMeemie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-19-04 11:02 PM
Response to Original message
1. Agreed. And no, I have never finished a one.
:hi: Dookus, it's nice to see you.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Dookus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-19-04 11:04 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. back atcha Mrs. G!
I ALWAYS try to read him. And a few paragraphs in, I give up in frustration.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
toddzilla Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-19-04 11:05 PM
Response to Original message
3. is this in the new one?
just got it today, anything special i should look for? my time is limited lately.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Dookus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-19-04 11:07 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. I'm just talking in general
I've never gotten through ONE of his essays, even though I've started literally hundreds of times. I was wondering if I was the only one who had such a hard time wading through his prose.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
toddzilla Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-19-04 11:08 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. i just start skimming..
if it seems like i've missed something i backtrack a little.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
fishnfla Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-19-04 11:09 PM
Response to Original message
6. Yes, all the time
His essay last month, "Buffalo Dances" was the most erudite piece I have ever read. I love Lewis Lapham


But whatever, did you read the "Beyond Fallujah" piece by Patrick Graham in this months edition? Awesome reporting! He is gonna catch flack for that article ('sleeping with the enemy') but it is a must read
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Dookus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 12:15 AM
Response to Reply #6
17. No I haven't....
I'll give it a try tonight for my bedtime reading. Thanks for the heads up.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
mitchum Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-19-04 11:11 PM
Response to Original message
7. Yes (and his book "Class" several times)
Edited on Wed May-19-04 11:11 PM by mitchum
I enjoy his style, but I can certainly understand why others may find it annoying
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
pinto Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-19-04 11:11 PM
Response to Original message
8. No, but there's hope. Took me two years to read Moby Dick, and it was
worth it.

How grey can the sea be? Ask Melville. It'll take a couple of pages, but you'll know grey.

Still the Great American Novel, imho, though.

(sorry for the sidetrack)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Dookus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-19-04 11:14 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. lol...
I've also tried, and given up on, Moby Dick many times.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
flowomo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-19-04 11:15 PM
Response to Original message
10. once.... I think
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Sticky Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-19-04 11:19 PM
Response to Original message
11. He was very charming on The Daily Show
.....not over my head at all. :-)

Here's the link to Jon's interview with Lewis Lapham

http://www.comedycentral.com/tv_shows/thedailyshowwithjonstewart/videos_celeb.jhtml?startIndex=37&s=stewart
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Dookus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-19-04 11:23 PM
Response to Reply #11
12. I saw it...
and I agree, he's charming and smart and all that. But his writing is just so obtuse...
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
SheWhoMustBeObeyed Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-19-04 11:25 PM
Response to Original message
13. Are you kidding? Every issue, every essay!
They are gems. I have even copied and mailed them to friends.

It's probably The Magistrate's influence.... ;)
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
ScrewyRabbit Donating Member (522 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-19-04 11:41 PM
Response to Original message
14. Often
His style is from a past age, it requires attention most of us don't have anymore. But then I make videogames, so who am I to talk.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
REP Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Wed May-19-04 11:50 PM
Response to Original message
15. Every Month
Lapham is an excellent writer. It may seem wordy to those unused to reading for pleasure, but he does not overwrite.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Dookus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 12:00 AM
Response to Reply #15
16. "unused to reading for pleasure"
heheh... if only you knew how much I read... for pleasure.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
REP Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 03:12 AM
Response to Reply #16
18. Not That Kind of Pleasure!
And that's not exactly 'reading,' either....
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
Dookus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu May-20-04 03:16 AM
Response to Reply #18
19. lol..
the fact remains, though, that I've been reading for over 35 years almost obsessively. Every wall in my house is lined with bookshelves... and they're full of books. My parents, aunts and uncles always mentioned my obsession with reading, which continues to this day.

I think it's possible to think Lapham is obtuse and long-winded without being illiterate.
Printer Friendly | Permalink |  | Top
 
DU AdBot (1000+ posts) Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Wed May 08th 2024, 05:31 PM
Response to Original message
Advertisements [?]
 Top

Home » Discuss » The DU Lounge Donate to DU

Powered by DCForum+ Version 1.1 Copyright 1997-2002 DCScripts.com
Software has been extensively modified by the DU administrators

Important Notices: By participating on this discussion board, visitors agree to abide by the rules outlined on our Rules page. Messages posted on the Democratic Underground Discussion Forums are the opinions of the individuals who post them, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Democratic Underground, LLC.

Home  |  Discussion Forums  |  Journals |  Store  |  Donate

About DU  |  Contact Us  |  Privacy Policy

Got a message for Democratic Underground? Click here to send us a message.

© 2001 - 2011 Democratic Underground, LLC