Rather Be Reading

Afterthoughts is a discussion series from The Point where our editors talk to writers and readers about new issues of the magazine. On this episode, Rachel, Jon and Joey are joined by Michelle Taylor and Daniel Silver to discuss their essays in issue 24. Essays discussed in this episode: “The Logic of the Like” by Daniel Silver: https://thepointmag.com/examined-life/the-logic-of-the-like/ “No One Is Talking About This” by Michelle Taylor: https://thepointmag.com/criticism/no-one-is-talking-about-this/ Subscribe to The Point to read this issue and more: http://thepointmag.com/subscribe

On Episode 3 of Rather Be Reading, Anastasia Berg interviews Andrea Long Chu about her debut essay in n+1 “On Liking Women” and the problem with trying to get our desires to conform to our political principles (1:03). Then Rachel Rosenfelt, the founding editor of the New Inquiry and new publisher of the New Republic, joins us to talk about the history of Occupy at leftist magazines and the future of the New Republic (26:24). Finally, we call up Jon’s mom for her two cents on Doris Lessing, sexist bosses and Bernie bros (36:59). Editors: Jon Baskin, Anastasia Berg & Rachel Wiseman 
Guests: Andrea Long Chu, Rachel Rosenfelt & Judy Wise Relevant Sources:
 - “On Liking Women” by Andrea Long Chu in n+1:  nplusonemag.com/issue-30/essays/on-liking-women/ 
- “Does Anyone Have the Right to Sex?” by Amia Srinivasan in the LRB: https://www.lrb.co.uk/v40/n06/amia-srinivasan/does-anyone-have-the-right-to-sex 
- “Lesbianism or Feminism: Synonyms or Contradictions?” by Robin Morgan, 1973 West Coast Lesbian Conference address: http://www.onearchives.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Lesbianism-and-Feminism-Synonyms-or-Contradictions-by-Robin-Morgan-April-14-1973.pdf 
- “Tired of Winning” by Jon Baskin in The Point:
thepointmag.com/2018/politics/tired-of-winning 
- “Occupy a Bank” by Sarah Leonard in the New Inquiry:
 thenewinquiry.com/occupy-a-bank/
 - “Switching Off” by Rachel Wiseman in The Point:
thepointmag.com/2018/examined-life/switching-off
 - “Leaving Herland” by Nora Caplan-Bricker in The Point:
thepointmag.com/2018/politics/leaving-herland + the rest of our new intellectuals symposium: https://thepointmag.com/point_symposia/what-are-intellectuals-for

On Episode 2 of Rather Be Reading, The Point podcast, we discuss the #MeToo social media campaign, shitty media men, and moral education with Becca Rothfeld and Jennifer Frey (00:54). For Charitable Reading, Jon Baskin talks to literary critic Nicholas Dames about Franco Moretti and the so-called "digital humanities bust" (27:22). Plus, we call up comedian David Heti to get his opinion on Larry David's controversial SNL monologue—and hear his latest Holocaust jokes (44:17). Editors: Jon Baskin, Anastasia Berg & Rachel Wiseman Guests: Jennifer Frey, Becca Rothfeld, Nicholas Dames, David Heti Relevant Sources: - "The Fratty Wolf in Your Grandmother's Clothing" by Becca Rothfeld, in the Baffler. thebaffler.com/latest/fratty-wolf - "Can Feminist Scholarship Stop Sexism?" by Becca Rothfeld, in the Chronicle of Higher Education. www.chronicle.com/article/Can-Femi…ship-Stop/240428 - "The Digital Humanities Bust" by Timothy Brennan, in the Chronicle Review. www.chronicle.com/article/The-Digi…ties-Bust/241424 - "Letter on the New Humanities" by the Editors, in The Point. thepointmag.com/2014/criticism/the-new-humanities - "System Reboot" by Justin Evans, in The Point. thepointmag.com/2016/criticism/system-reboot - "Things Don't Make Sense" by Sheila Heti & David Heti, in The Point. https://thepointmag.com/2017/dialogue/things-dont-make-sense-conversation-comedy-sheila-heti-david-heti

Is there such a thing as a conservative intellectual? In the inaugural episode of Rather Be Reading, The Point Magazine podcast, we discuss the "What Happened to the Public Intellectual?" panel that we attended during the Brooklyn Book Festival and why there is resistance to the notion that conservative intellectuals exist. Plus, a "Charitable Reading" segment on why lefties despise David Brooks (featuring famous Brooks hater Jake Bittle) and a bit where we check in with Jon's mom. Editors: Jon Baskin, Anastasia Berg & Rachel Wiseman Guests: Jake Bittle, Judy Wise