DEMOCRACY FOR A DIME

Books were no bargain until a century ago when the Little Blue Books were born. A half billion books later. . .

BOOK-ISH, DEMOCRACYThe AtticAugust 19, 2021Publishing, Little Blue Books, Emanuel Haldeman-Julius, Democracy Comments

GOOSING THE GRIM REAPER

Death may be final but mocking the Grim Reaper is an old American tradition

WITSThe AtticAugust 13, 2021Epitaphs, Funny epitaphs, Gravestones, Funny gravestones Comments

ALEX HALEY AND THE "ROOTS" REVOLUTION

It was another night in prime time, 1977, and then “Roots” broke the bonds of denial. (As seen in “Roots.”)

REBELS, BOOK-ISH, ATTIC AT THE MOVIESThe AtticAugust 5, 2021Alex Haley, "Roots", "Roots" mini-series, slavery, history of slavery, "Roots: The Saga of an American Family", ABC Comment

JOHN CAGE AND THE SOUND OF SILENCE

John Cage heard music in everyday sounds. His 4’33” taught audiences to hear that music, too.

ART-ISHThe AtticJuly 29, 2021John Cage, 4'33", American music, Silence Comments

THE ART OF REBUILDING A NEIGHBORHOOD

As a potter, Theaster Gates learned to shape clay. Now he is reshaping a Chicago neighborhood — and lives.

DREAMERSThe AtticJuly 15, 2021Theaster Gates, South Chicago, Rebuild Foundation, Urban Renewal, Inner city Comments

ANNIE AT THE CREEK

Her first book made her the “true heir” to Thoreau. But Annie Dillard found new wonders to explore.

BOOK-ISHThe AtticJuly 8, 2021Annie Dillard, A Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, American literature, Thoreau Comments

THE FALL OF 'THE GREAT WHITE HOPE'

JULY 4, 1910

When Jack Johnson fought Jim Jeffries on the Fourth, white supremacy took a stunning blow.

HEROESBruce WatsonJuly 5, 2021Jack Johnson, Boxer Jack Johnson, The Great White Hope, Jim Jeffries, Johnson-Jeffries fight, American race relations, Jim Crow Comment

"LUCKIEST MAN" -- THE GRACE OF LOU GEHRIG

When the “bad break” ended his career — and soon his life — he stepped up to the plate and showed true class. (As seen in “The Pride of the Yankees.”)

HEROES, ATTIC AT THE MOVIESThe AtticJuly 2, 2021ALS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Lou Gehrig, "Luckiest Man", New York Yankees, Baseball, Baseball lore Comments

ELLA BAKER -- HOW TO GROW A MOVEMENT

Everyone knows Rosa and Martin, but there would have been no deep Civil Rights Movement without Ella.

REBELSThe AtticJune 24, 2021Ella Baker, Civil Rights, SNCC, Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee Comment

THE MAN ON THE FLYING CARPET

Swimming the Panama Canal, flying to Timbuktu, crossing the Alps on an elephant, Richard Halliburton enthralled a housebound America.

History, DREAMERSThe AtticJune 18, 2021Richard Halliburton, Travel, Adventure, Roaring Twenties, Daredevil Comment

THE WOMAN WHO 'GOT' VIETNAM

Male reporters wrote about troops and body counts but “Frankie” FitzGerald saw two clashing cultures and a tragedy unfolding.

REBELSThe AtticJune 10, 2021Vietnam, Frances FitzGerald, Anti-war, Fire in the Lake Comments

AMERICA'S FAVORITE FOOTPATH -- THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL

2,200 miles from Georgia to Maine, the A.T. is a culture on foot, with its own “trail magic.”

American Places, WALKING AMERICAThe AtticMay 27, 2021Appalachian Trail, Hiking, ATC, A.T., Katahdin, Springer Mountain, Thru-hikers Comment

WALKING NYC -- EVERY LAST INCH

Coast-to-coast? Done that. So Matt Green set out to walk New York. Every borough. Every street. Every pier and park. Eight years and 8,000 miles later. . . (As seen in “The World Beneath My Feet.”)