John Bascom and the Origins of the Wisconsin Idea

J. David Hoeveler. University of Wisconsin Press, July 2016. Available on Amazon. A philosopher, theologian, and sociologist, Bascom (1827–1922) deeply influenced a generation of students at the University of Wisconsin, including La Follette and Van Hise. Hoeveler documents how Bascom drew concepts from German idealism, liberal Protestantism,… Continue reading »

Mistaking Each Other for Ghosts

By Lawrence Raab, Harry C. Payne Professor of Poetry. Nominated for 2015 National Book Award for Poetry. This is the latest book of poems by Raab, whose other honors include the Academy of American Poets’ Prize, the Charity Randall Citation from the International Poetry Forum and the Bess Hokin Prize from Poetry magazine. Continue reading »

Meander, Because You Can’t See Much While Marching

By Michael Glier, Williams professor of art, Lucy R. Lippard, Thomas Crow and David Breslin. This tribute to Glier’s wide-ranging career provides a glimpse into his intellectual and artistic process. Representative works from throughout his career capture each phase of his growth and exploration as an artist. Inspired by the… Continue reading »

Recovering Place: Reflections on Stone Hill

By Mark C. Taylor. Columbia University Press. February 2014. Taylor, a Williams professor of Humanities from 1973-2007 (now Chair of the Department of Religion at Columbia University) shows his love for the Berkshires in words and photographs, reminding us to think about the significance and importance of place in a… Continue reading »