Indiana University Press blog

Book review: Natality and Finitude

"The relevance of this book—to crucial debates in continental thought, feminism, and political philosophy—cannot be over-emphasized.... The prose is generally clear, engaging, and insightful. This work should not be overlooked." —Canadian Society for Continental Philosophy

Book review: The Faces of Intellectual Disability

"[This book] illuminates exquisitely the epistemological and normative commitments and implications of various philosophical accounts. As such, it is a valuable addition to the philosophical literature on intellectual disability." —Teachers College Record

Book review: The Origins of Responsibility

"Raffoul displays throughout considerable skills of reading and exegesis, and he has an important story to tell about the history of responsibility. ...There is a great deal to admire in this book and one can only look forward to [his] future work." —Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

Author event: Bill Smoot to speak at UCI

For most people, great teachers are unforgettable. But what makes a teacher great? Bill Smoot, author of Conversations with Great Teachers, will delve into this question as he discusses his experiences writing the book and how they influenced his ideas on wisdom and learning. The lecture will be at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 2 at the University of California, Irvine. 

Reservations are $35. For more information, visit the University Club's website.

Book Review: I Was an Elephant Salesman

"This autobiographical novel is a treasure, a narrative of courage, optimism, and resilience. ...Khouma gives his audience much food for thought." —ForeWord Reviews

Book review: Paul Ricoeur between Theology and Philosophy

"This book is well written, concise, and clear. It provides a cogent account of theological debates while at the same time making Ricoeur accessible. ...Those involved with Ricoeur scholarship will no doubt find Blundell’s study a valuable resource for drawing a clear line of intellectual development in Ricoeur’s thought." —Philosophy in Review

Book review: Science in the New Russia

"This book ... provides an interesting and useful analysis of the development of research activities in Russia." —Europe-Asia Studies

The Trials and Tribulations of an Academic Editor

Recently I was asked as of when have I been serving as the academic editor of Nashim, and to be perfectly frank, this historian could not recall. More than five issues ago? Perhaps ten? I decided to look at the inside cover of all the issues on my bookshelf, only to discover I have been officially editing this journal as of the fifth issue.When the latest issue, no. 20, arrived at Schechter today, the calculation was, as they say, a "no brainer."

Nashim was created at the initiative of Deborah Greniman, a professional editor who was studying for her M.A. at the Schechter Institute in women's studies in the mid-1990s. In the early years, it was published annually, almost singlehandedly by Debbie. In 2001, the editorial board realized that the managing editor needed the help and support of an academic; thus, I officially came on board. Soon after, the journal made a major transition by signing a contract with Indiana University Press in 2003 which obligated us to produce two issues annually. Read the rest of the post on the IUP/Journals blog.

Two IU Press books named Outstanding Academic Titles

We are pleased to announce that two of our books have been selected for the 2010 Choice Outstanding Academic Titles list! Queer Women and Religious Individualism by Melissa M. Wilcox and English Filming, English Writing by Jefferson Hunter were both included on the list in the January 2011 issue of Choice (requires subscription).

This prestigious list reflects the best titles reviewed by Choice in 2010 and brings with it the extraordinary recognition of the academic library community. This year's list includes 668 titles in 54 disciplines and subsections. Congratulations to our authors!

 

Author of American Idol book weighs in on new judges

The season premiere of American Idol airs tonight on FOX, with new judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez making their debut. Some are speculating if the rock god and pop idol are the right fit for the show. Katherine Meizel, author of the upcoming book Idolized: Music, Media, and Identity in American Idol, says Tyler and Lopez are "very shrewd choices."

"They securely tie the hopeful Idols to the broader music-industry perspective that the show has moved toward in the past few seasons—increasingly diverse genres of pop and rock—while still maintaining the sort of opposites-attract casting we had with Simon and Paula."

Although both judges are reluctant to claim the villian role that Simon Cowell embraced, Meizel thinks that Tyler will be the show's new "voice of reality" (although maybe not with quite as much of Simon's acerbic flare).

"I'm imagining that Steven Tyler is meant to bring some kind of rocker realism to the panel—he's got rock-god cred; he's really lived the dream, rehab and all."

But is Jennifer Lopez the new Paula? Meizel says, "I think she fills some of the same roles Paula did originally—the dancer, the sisterly adviser—but also brings her own personality and status as a cross-media industry powerhouse to the show."

What do you think of the new judges? Tune in tonight to see how they do! In the meantime, you can watch a preview from tonight's show here:

Katherine Meizel is Visiting Assistant Professor at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. She will be blogging about the premiere of American Idol for Slate.