Book Review: "Book by Book"

A brief divergence from the historical/political books this week (I read the latest John Dunning mystery and Gregory Maguire's Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister over the weekend), to comment on book critic Michael Dirda's newest work, Book by Book. A useful little collection of quotes, short essays, lists and commentary, this book will find a happy home on my shelves, and I look forward to re-reading it many times in the future.

Dirda, a longtime writer for the Washington Post's book review, has compiled a sort of literary hodgepodge, an interesting and witty blend of advice column, self-help manual, book review, and critique of modern society's obsession with best-sellers and video games (not the same segment of society, necessarily). While some of his comments ("brush and floss") seem a bit misplaced, I fully appreciate his views on reading (particularly reading to children, piquing and allowing their interests to flourish).