Author Archives: Kit Stolz

What makes Americans unhappy?

It's not just the recession, as this fascinating graphic — based on a Gallup poll of "subjective well-being" taken daily — shows, based on a statistical resampling of results by Princeton economist Angus Deaton.  Here's the logic, from Ezra Klein's great WonkBlog:  There are some big changes that seem to make sense: a big dropContinue reading “What makes Americans unhappy?”

The not-in-denial drinker: Dwight Macdonald

Asked once why he drank so much, critic and editor Dwight Macdonald replied: "I'm an alcoholic, Goddammit it!"  From a really terrific NYTimes Book Review piece on a new collection of Macdonald's acerbic criticism, Dwight Macdonald's War on Mediocrity, last Sunday. Few reviews are so entertaining, but then, few critics (or writers, for that matter)Continue reading “The not-in-denial drinker: Dwight Macdonald”

How to talk to a man planning suicide: Tennessee Williams

In l940, while living on $50 a month, Tennessee Williams had a long talk with his suicidal friend Clark Mills. I think in the self-reporting of this conversation you can see why 20 years of lack of success at writing could not kill Tennessee Williams' belief in his work, nor his desire to live… [ClarkContinue reading “How to talk to a man planning suicide: Tennessee Williams”

The problem with America: Too much cake

Vanity Fair puts the entire California chapter of Michael Lewis's new book, Boomerang, on the Web, and boy is it good. Lewis really is all that. Long but highly recommended. Here's the thinky part: The road out of Vallejo passes directly through the office of Dr. Peter Whybrow, a British neuroscientist at U.C.L.A. with aContinue reading “The problem with America: Too much cake”

The usefulness of forgetting: Tennessee Williams

  "A bad memory is a great convenience."    Tennessee Williams, The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone, 1950   The quote is from the nouvella. Here's the poster from the first movie made of this story.    [My god, what a cast! Lotte Lenya?!? Who was nominated for Best Supporting for the role? I haveContinue reading “The usefulness of forgetting: Tennessee Williams”

Another bad day for climate change denial

Richard Muller, a MacArthur fellow at UC Berkeley, and a contrarian who led a group of scientists — mostly physicists — into the foul waters of climate change denial, funded in large part by the justly-infamous Koch brothers, has been forced to admit by the extensive resampling of data from 40,000 field stations that yes, theContinue reading “Another bad day for climate change denial”

The Holy Family: Tennessee Williams on Van Gogh

As mentioned in an earlier post, while at the University of Iowa's dramatic writing program, Tennessee Williams, then a complete unknown, set out to write a play about Vincent Van Gogh. He didn't get past a few scenes, but the idea still fascinates.  In a letter to a friend William Holland, dated 11/18/1937, he wrote:Continue reading “The Holy Family: Tennessee Williams on Van Gogh”

Alfred Hitchock on global warming

Well, not exactly. But in his "Picture of the Week" feature on his chatty blog, Peter Bogdanovich — who directed one of the great pictures of my youth, The Last Picture Show — has some interesting thoughts from Hitch on nature and revenge re: The Birds:  When I asked Hitch what he felt the movieContinue reading “Alfred Hitchock on global warming”

Did alternative medicine lead to Steve Jobs’ death?

That's what some critics — all of whom appear to be admirers of Steve Jobs — are saying. Fortune magazine, 2003: During a routine abdominal scan, doctors had discovered a tumor growing in his pancreas. While a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is often tantamount to a swiftly executed death sentence, a biopsy revealed that JobsContinue reading “Did alternative medicine lead to Steve Jobs’ death?”