R. Jay Magill Jr.'s Blog, page 4

A Case against Sincerity

An engaging discussion about Sincerity with Wade Davis (and callers) on WBUR’s “On...

Advance Reviews!

“A wide-ranging and penetrating cultural inquiry.” — Booklist (starred review)

“A sophisticated meditation…a rewarding read…[Magill writes with]
 scholarliness, humor, and humanity….Two recently deceased men who knew about sincerity and silliness, Christopher Hitchens and Maurice Sendak, would approve of the whole enterprise….Anti-intellectuals need not apply.” — Library Journal

“Energetic…well-researched…Magill proves most lively as he brings the reader up to date; his Hipster Semiotic Appendix demonstrates his acuity and sense of humor.” — Publishers Weekly

“An illumination of the shifting attitudes and ambivalence toward a value that society claims to hold in high esteem….Sincerity proves to be a richer topic than readers might initially suspect.” — Kirkus Reviews

The Case against Sincerity in Politics

No joke: See the April 1st front page of the Boston Globe’s Ideas section for a short piece on sincerity and politics — specifically, that there may be too much of it, and why.

And here is the reprint in the Dallas Morning News.

The Blog

This section of this website will be used to post reviews and other press mentions of Sincerity, due out from W. W. Norton in early summer, as well as for dates and locations of any book signings, readings, et cetera. (And perhaps, along the way, a few notes on politics, religion, and the batty American cultural landscape. There is some kind of US election-thingy coming up…)