Lev Raphael's Blog

My Mentor is Always With Me

I write and review full-time and teach part-time, and my college mentor from years ago is with me in almost every class I

Brawling in Brussels?

I thought that staying near the Brussels airport after close to a week in Flanders was a smart move. I was going to do serious

How MLK Changed My Life

My Holocaust survivor parents arrived in the U.S. in 1950 and followed the Civil Rights movement in the 50s and 60s with

Why Not Speak Their Language When You Travel Abroad?

But you know what? The clerk answered in German that of course they had it, what size did I want, and I bought the bottle

Is Paris Depressing? Mais Non!

Erin Zaleski just did a big piece in The Daily Beast about how Paris is apparently depressing for many people who’ve fantasized

Is Paris Depressing?

Erin Zaleski just did a big piece in The Daily Beast about how Paris is apparently depressing for many people who’ve fantasized

Is Life Possible Without Facebook?

I did not miss adorable animal videos (gerbils making friends with giraffes, etc.) which I confess I’ve often re-posted because

Why I Don't Make New Year's Resolutions

I haven’t made a New Year’s Resolution since I was in college, because they’ve always struck me as a bit like lines drawn

Twelve Reasons To Read "The Man Who Invented Christmas"

First of all, its author Les Standiford is a terrific writer, deftly blending history, biography, and cultural analysis to

Twelve Reasons Why You Should Read "The Man Who Invented Christmas"

First of all, its author Les Standiford is a terrific writer, deftly blending history, biography, and cultural analysis to