Missive #633 Published 6 January 2026

From mountain shrines to lowland oases, ethnobiologist Gary Nabhan takes us on a series of journeys with contemporary Papago Indians, the Tohono O'odham, or "Desert People." From these journeys we discover how much the Desert People know about the dynamics of their arid homeland in Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. The Desert Smells Like Rain offers insights into the natural history of desert plants and animals as it documents a dying agricultural tradition that has enriched the biological diversity of the Papago's seemingly harsh environment. Drawing on his extensive scientific research and study of Papago folklore, as well as his years of work among the Desert People in village gardening and nutrition programs, Nabhan portrays a desert-adapted way of life that has persisted despite the pressures of modern civilization.

Missive #632 Published 5 January 2026

This book reads somewhat like a collection of short stories yet some of them have ties to others. Interesting. I may try some of her other books when I clear my reading list a bit.

Missive #630 Published 3 January 2026

The Culture of Narcissism is a critical examination of American society, particularly during the late 1970s, authored by Christopher Lasch. The book posits that the American character was shifting from an individualistic mindset, which once emphasized personal achievement and societal contribution, to a more self-absorbed and narcissistic personality. Lasch identifies key traits of this new narcissistic individual, including a heavy reliance on external validation, emotional dependence on expert advice, and an inability to confront personal or societal issues independently. He argues that this shift resulted in a pervasive sense of unease and emptiness, as individuals became increasingly disconnected from their own moral authority and reliant on bureaucratic solutions to personal problems.

Missive #627 Published 31 December 2025

Nearly half a century before George Orwell wrote 1984, G.K. Chesterton wrote The Napoleon of Notting Hill, a futurist fantasy also set in 1984. In this startling comic novel, Chesterton conjures up a London neighborhood that has become an independent city, fond of pageantry and traditional ways, isolated by high walls from the rest of the world. When its rights and autonomy are threatened by modernizing neighbors, war breaks out. It is a war fought not with astounding new weapons, but with swords and battle-axes. It is oddly prophetic, about large nations swallowing little nations, and local communities struggling to maintain their independence from outside control. It is also a great story, with wonderful dialogue and rich, humorous characters.

Missive #626 Published 30 December 2025

I understood about half of what this sociologist, philosopher and author wrote. He does not use academic jargon very much but does footnote his writing as they always do. The hardest reading for me was his very complex and sometimes run-on sentences. Read at your own risk.

Missive #625 Published 29 December 2025

I read some books a long time ago but have forgot what they were so I'm going back and starting over. Joe Allston is a character in this book and also in All the Little Live Things which I will read next. He is also thematically and structurally linked to Angle of Repose through the shared use of an older, reflective narrator that I will read after that. Then there are a lot more to choose from.