Latest news with #MaureenDowd
Mint
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Manu Joseph: The pressure on men to read novels can be insufferable
Now and then, there is a lecture given to men about how they must read, chiefly novels. And why the fact that most of them don't read novels is yet another reason why they are not better people, like women. A few days ago the New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd wrote a column entitled, 'Attention, Men: Books Are Sexy!' This headline portended a genre of advice to men—that if they did what women did, they would be more attractive. You may have also come across articles that say, 'Men: Doing chores at home is sexy' and 'Men: Listening is sexy.' Once, on a Goan beach, I was practising yoga, or what I think is yoga, when two Western women nodded in appreciation as they walked by. What made me laugh in the warrior pose was not only their social confidence in complimenting a native practising his own culture, but also my suspicion that what they approved of was a man doing peaceful exercises, instead of pumping iron like 'toxic men' do. I wanted to tell them I have read Sally Rooney too; they would probably have taken me out to dinner. If I said Jane Austen, they might have swooned. Also Read: Mint Quick Edit | 'Heart Lamp': A Booker prize for empathy and light Dowd makes the rewards for men clearer in her NYT column: 'It was one of the most erotic things I ever heard. A man I know said he was reading all the novels of Jane Austen in one summer." This is part of an ongoing lament about the disappearance of men who read novels. 'I interviewed Ralph Fiennes, and it turned out that he loves Shakespeare and reciting Beckett at 3 a.m. under the stars," she writes, I guess in an appreciative way and not in alarm at the mental health of such a man. Alright, most men do not wish to recite an absurdist playwright at a late hour. Is that really a problem? As an expert on men, let me explain why most of them don't read novels. Because they find novels boring. There needs to be no other reason. Finding something uninteresting is a human emotion that does not need to explain itself. But still, you may want me to explain, so I will try: Most men have no curiosity about the lives of people they do not know, especially made-up people; and lack the narcissism to connect the drama of fictitious people with their own lives. As a result, they are unable to overlook unremarkable plot lines and unremarkable scenes, particularly in 'literary' novels. Also, if they are over the age of 30, they are entrapped by an imbecilic question: 'What is the takeaway?' If something is not entertaining, men can still soldier on, like going to a gym, but they need to know what 'use' it will be. I agree it is a foolish way to be, but this is how most adults, not just men, are today. Also Read: Children's literature is a generator of human capital In my view, reading is the highest form of entertainment, especially when a book gets going, but I completely understand why some people might find it boring. As the American writer David Foster Wallace said, 'I have friends—intelligent friends—who don't like to read because they get—it's not just bored—there's an almost dread that comes up... about having to be alone and having to be quiet." Actually, reading his 'great' novel, Infinite Jest, has been more dreadful to many people than loneliness. Also, anything by Thomas Pynchon. Their works are so dense that people admit to suffering through them. They do claim 'rewards,' but that could be something they are trained to say by the establishment. I can see the point of working a bit to enjoy a work of art, but suffering it for weeks only reflects a lack of self-confidence to toss an acclaimed book aside as unworthy of your time. The veneration of novels as predominant temples of wisdom and powerful schools of empathy is in great part the propaganda of writers and literary middlemen who have a vested interest in insulting those who don't consume their goods. Also Read: Our literary fiction written in English has lost its spark First of all, the novel, especially the vaunted literary novel, is a luxury enterprise, the preserve of the upper class. Most of world literature is the point of view of the top 2%. I would even say all of literature is just that when you consider that the top 2% regulates what counts as 'literature.' You don't have to be in awe of it. But I would say this: Of all the things the rich have made, this is probably the most enjoyable. As women are the primary market for novels today, they have created a world where the most powerful people in publishing are mostly women. Also Read: Manu Joseph: How to reform your son after you watched a TV show There are some male literary superstars, but even their fate rests on a special quality of women—they are generous to men, in the sense that they are somewhat interested in what men have to say. Men, in general, do not seem to have that generosity. A lot of men, in my experience, have no interest in reading the thoughts and stories of women. There is no villainy here; it is just the way they are. It is a bit like how Indians are interested in reading about America, but Americans have no such reciprocal interest. The male view, despite the generosity of women, is not so saleable anymore. In 2022, the novelist Joyce Carol Oates wrote on Twitter, 'A friend who is a literary agent told me that he cannot even get editors to read first novels by young white male writers, no matter how good." Women readers have been pushing male novelists out of the mainstream market because they are naturally drawn to what other women have to say. Perhaps this points to how natural it is for men not to be all that interested in the things that interest women. The author is a journalist, novelist and screenwriter. His latest book is 'Why the Poor Don't Kill Us.'
New York Times
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Read All About It: True Tales of Men and Fiction
To the Editor: Re 'Attention, Men: Books Are Sexy!,' by Maureen Dowd (column, Aug. 3): Backpacking solo in 1995, reading voraciously, I met one of the loves of my life in Ubud, Bali. I was on a veranda overlooking rice paddies when Cherie, who was traveling with her mother, brazenly snatched the book I had my nose so buried in that I had not noticed her staring at me. It was a Penguin paperback, 'How Much Land Does a Man Need? And Other Stories,' by Leo Tolstoy. Cherie's eyes got wide, and I could tell she approved of my choice of authors, and my bookish interest in that collection of stories, to the exclusion of all around me. She told me that's sexy right then and there. We talked long into the night. The trip to Bali became ever better after that. Even her mother liked me. Lifetime memories. All because I was reading Tolstoy. Gowan McAvityBedford, N.Y. To the Editor: Maureen Dowd writes compellingly about men and fiction. Jane Austen of course is wonderful for men and women, and I read her voraciously because she is so good with language and thought. An added appeal is hearing the thoughts of a woman on men that we can all recognize: that our social posturing is just that, and a conscious female observer can see through it. I find myself far less interested in nonfiction. When I travel, I read a novel or a short story collection from the land I will visit rather than a travel guide — say, José Saramago before going to Portugal — because it tells me about how people there think, their worldview. It makes me feel at home and more understanding of the culture than any guidebook. Bill EslerChicago To the Editor: Maureen Dowd laments that men are reading less and reports, 'Women make up 80 percent of fiction sales.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This week on "Sunday Morning" (June 8)
The Emmy Award-winning "CBS News Sunday Morning" is broadcast on CBS Sundays beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. "Sunday Morning" also streams on the CBS News app beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. (Download it here.) Hosted by Jane Pauley COVER STORY: "O for a muse of fire": The modern appeal of ShakespeareWhy are the plays of William Shakespeare still so popular four hundred years after the Bard's death? Correspondent Mo Rocca visits the newly-renovated Folger Shakespeare Library, in Washington, D.C., home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare's published First Folios; and talks with New York Times columnist and Shakespeare aficionado Maureen Dowd about the playwright's enduring appeal. Rocca also talks with actor Patrick Page, who travels the country with his one-man show of Shakespearean villains, "All the Devils Are Here"; and "This American Life" host Ira Glass, whose 2014 tweet declaring that "Shakespeare sucks" let slip the dogs of war. For more info: "All the Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain" by Patrick Page ( Shakespeare Library, Washington Glass on Instagram"This American Life"Maureen Dowd, The New York Times"Notorious: Portraits of Stars from Hollywood, Culture, Fashion, and Tech" by Maureen Dowd (HarperCollins), in Hardcover, eBook and Audio formats, available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Source ShakespeareShakespeare Birthplace Globe, London ALMANAC: June 8"Sunday Morning" looks back at historical events on this date. SPORTS: Broadway's longest-running hit … on the softball fieldWhen they're not plying the boards, Broadway and off-Broadway actors (along with stagehands, musicians and ushers) show their less-used talents in New York City's Central Park, by playing softball in the Broadway Show League. As stars like George Clooney (Team "Good Night and Good Luck") take to the field and make their shows' insurers anxious, correspondent Faith Salie talks with some of the competitors, including actors Nick Jonas ("The Last Five Years") and Michael Park ("Redwood") and costume dresser Jessica Vaughan ("Wicked"), about this hit of a Broadway production. For more info: Broadway Show League U.S.: Library of CongressRobert Costa reports. PREVIEW: Former Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden speaks out about her firing by TrumpDr. Carla Hayden, the former Librarian of Congress fired by President Trump last month, talks for the first time about her abrupt dismissal, and the challenges facing her former institution – and libraries nationwide. For more info: Library of Congress THEATER: Jean Smart on her one-woman Broadway show "Call Me Izzy"The Emmy Award-winning star of "Hacks," Jean Smart, has returned to Broadway in "Call Me Izzy," a one-woman show written by "Sunday Morning" contributor Jamie Wax. They talk with correspondent Tracy Smith about her character – a woman in an abusive marriage who escapes in a world of books. Smart also discusses her life spanning comic highs and painful loss, from starring on "Designing Women," to becoming a single mom with the sudden death of husband Richard Gilliland. For more info: "Call Me Izzy," at Studio 54 in New York City (through Aug. 17) | Ticket infoJean Smart on Instagram PASSAGE: In memoriam"Sunday Morning" remembers some of the notable figures who left us this week. MEDIA: It's a living: Earning patronage on PatreonMany creators on social media have a hard time making money from their work. Today, 12 years after the introduction of Patreon, the company says it's a source of regular income for more than 300,000 creators. Correspondent David Pogue talks with Patreon co-founder Jack Conte, and with podcasters and artists who gain income from subscribing patrons paying as little as $5 a month. For more info: PatreonCaro Arévalo on Patreon | LinktreePatrick Hinds and Gillian Pensavalle's "True Crime Obsessed" on PatreonAlan Alda's "Clear and Vivid" on Patreon THE TONY AWARDS: Short MUSIC: "A little magic": The Doobie Brothers on songwritingThis week, Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons – founding and current members of The Doobie Brothers – will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. As the band embarks on a summer tour, correspondent Jim Axelrod talked with them, and with fellow Doobie Brother John McFee, about reuniting on their 16th studio album, "Walk This Road"; and how the magic of songwriting has shaped the sound of the Doobie Brothers for more than half a century. To hear the title track "Walk This Road" by The Doobie Brothers (featuring Mavis Staples), click on the video player below: For more info: "Walk This Road" by The Doobie Brothers (Warner Bros./Rhino), available June 6The Doobie Brothers (Official site) | Tour infoSongwriters Hall of Fame STAGE: Magic in the dark: The fantastical worlds of Lightwire TheaterPart dance, part puppetry, and part electroluminescent wiring, Lightwire Theater creates evocative stage shows featuring dinosaurs, mythic heroes and fairy tale creatures. Correspondent Martha Teichner talks with Ian and Eleanor Carney, the husband-and-wife co-founders of the New Orleans-based company, about their imaginative blend of artistry and technology. For more info: Lightwire Theater Lafon Performing Arts Center, Luling, La. COMMENTARY: From celebrating Juneteenth to the erasure of Black history: Charles M. Blow on America todayPolitical analyst and former New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow says that pluralism and racial justice have been demoted in the months since President Trump re-took office, as his administration has moved to purge the government (and much of society) of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Blow looks at the "sad new reality" in which America's raging culture wars have targeted our youngest national holiday. For more info: Charles M. Blow on Instagram NATURE: TBD WEB EXCLUSIVES: MARATHON: 2025 Tony-nominated shows and performers (YouTube Video)It's time to celebrate the best of Broadway! Watch "Sunday Morning" interviews with the creatives on stage and behind the scenes of this year's Tony Award-nominated shows. [And don't miss the Tony Awards ceremony broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ June 8.] FROM THE ARCHIVES: Dr. Robert Jarvik and the artificial heart (YouTube Video)Dr. Robert Jarvik, who designed the first permanent artificial heart implanted in a human, died on Monday, May 26, 2025, at age 79. He talked with correspondent Richard Wagner for this "CBS Sunday Morning" report on biomedical engineering projects that aired on Oct. 14, 1979, three years before that first artificial heart transplant. Wagner also talked with Dr. Wilhem Kolff (who invented the kidney dialysis machine); polymer chemist Dr. Donald Lyman; Dr. J.D. Mortensen (director of Surgical Research at the University of Utah); and with patients who were experiencing life with artificial limbs and kidneys. FROM THE ARCHIVES: Young tech entrepreneurs looking to the future (YouTube Video)Revisit these "CBS Sunday Morning" archive segments — from our 1998 interview with Elon Musk to our 2005 interview with Mark Zuckerberg, founder of and beyond. The Emmy Award-winning "CBS News Sunday Morning" is broadcast on CBS Sundays beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. Executive producer is Rand Morrison. DVR Alert! Find out when "Sunday Morning" airs in your city "Sunday Morning" also streams on the CBS News app beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. (Download it here.) Full episodes of "Sunday Morning" are now available to watch on demand on and Paramount+, including via Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Chromecast, Amazon FireTV/FireTV stick and Xbox. Follow us on Twitter/X; Facebook; Instagram; YouTube; TikTok; Bluesky; and at You can also download the free "Sunday Morning" audio podcast at iTunes and at Now you'll never miss the trumpet! Musk alleges Trump's name appeared in Epstein files as feud escalates What to know about President Trump's travel ban on nationals from 12 countries Trump says he's disappointed by Musk criticism of budget bill, Musk says he got Trump elected
CBS News
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
This week on "Sunday Morning" (June 8)
The Emmy Award-winning "CBS News Sunday Morning" is broadcast on CBS Sundays beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. "Sunday Morning" also streams on the CBS News app beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. (Download it here.) Hosted by Jane Pauley COVER STORY: "O for a muse of fire": The modern appeal of Shakespeare Why are the plays of William Shakespeare still so popular four hundred years after the Bard's death? Correspondent Mo Rocca visits the newly-renovated Folger Shakespeare Library, in Washington, D.C., home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare's published First Folios; and talks with New York Times columnist and Shakespeare aficionado Maureen Dowd about the playwright's enduring appeal. Rocca also talks with actor Patrick Page, who travels the country with his one-man show of Shakespearean villains, "All the Devils Are Here"; and "This American Life" host Ira Glass, whose 2014 tweet declaring that "Shakespeare sucks" let slip the dogs of war. For more info: ALMANAC: June 8 "Sunday Morning" looks back at historical events on this date. George Clooney, now batting for Team "Good Night and Good Luck," is seen during a Broadway Show League softball game in Central Park, New York City, May 8, 2025. Bobby Bank/GC Images SPORTS: Broadway's longest-running hit … on the softball field When they're not plying the boards, Broadway and off-Broadway actors (along with stagehands, musicians and ushers) show their less-used talents in New York City's Central Park, by playing softball in the Broadway Show League. As stars like George Clooney (Team "Good Night and Good Luck") take to the field and make their shows' insurers anxious, correspondent Faith Salie talks with some of the competitors, including actors Nick Jonas ("The Last Five Years") and Michael Park ("Redwood") and costume dresser Jessica Vaughan ("Wicked"), about this hit of a Broadway production. For more info: U.S.: Library of Congress Robert Costa reports. PREVIEW: Former Librarian of Congress Dr. Carla Hayden speaks out about her firing by Trump Dr. Carla Hayden, the former Librarian of Congress fired by President Trump last month, talks for the first time about her abrupt dismissal, and the challenges facing her former institution – and libraries nationwide. For more info: Actress Jean Smart, now starring on Broadway in the one-woman show "Call Me Izzy." CBS News THEATER: Jean Smart on her one-woman Broadway show "Call Me Izzy" The Emmy Award-winning star of "Hacks," Jean Smart, has returned to Broadway in "Call Me Izzy," a one-woman show written by "Sunday Morning" contributor Jamie Wax. They talk with correspondent Tracy Smith about her character – a woman in an abusive marriage who escapes in a world of books. Smart also discusses her life spanning comic highs and painful loss, from starring on "Designing Women," to becoming a single mom with the sudden death of husband Richard Gilliland. For more info: PASSAGE: In memoriam "Sunday Morning" remembers some of the notable figures who left us this week. Jack Conte, co-founder of which facilitates subscriptions by viewers to support artists, musicians, podcasters, and other online content creators. CBS News MEDIA: It's a living: Earning patronage on Patreon Many creators on social media have a hard time making money from their work. Today, 12 years after the introduction of Patreon, the company says it's a source of regular income for more than 300,000 creators. Correspondent David Pogue talks with Patreon co-founder Jack Conte, and with podcasters and artists who gain income from subscribing patrons paying as little as $5 a month. For more info: THE TONY AWARDS: Short MUSIC: "A little magic": The Doobie Brothers on songwriting This week, Tom Johnston, Michael McDonald and Patrick Simmons – founding and current members of The Doobie Brothers – will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. As the band embarks on a summer tour, correspondent Jim Axelrod talked with them, and with fellow Doobie Brother John McFee, about reuniting on their 16th studio album, "Walk This Road"; and how the magic of songwriting has shaped the sound of the Doobie Brothers for more than half a century. To hear the title track "Walk This Road" by The Doobie Brothers (featuring Mavis Staples), click on the video player below: For more info: Correspondent Martha Teichner meets a Lightwire Theater creature. CBS News STAGE: Magic in the dark: The fantastical worlds of Lightwire Theater Part dance, part puppetry, and part electroluminescent wiring, Lightwire Theater creates evocative stage shows featuring dinosaurs, mythic heroes and fairy tale creatures. Correspondent Martha Teichner talks with Ian and Eleanor Carney, the husband-and-wife co-founders of the New Orleans-based company, about their imaginative blend of artistry and technology. For more info: COMMENTARY: From celebrating Juneteenth to the erasure of Black history: Charles M. Blow on America today Political analyst and former New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow says that pluralism and racial justice have been demoted in the months since President Trump re-took office, as his administration has moved to purge the government (and much of society) of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Blow looks at the "sad new reality" in which America's raging culture wars have targeted our youngest national holiday. For more info: NATURE: TBD WEB EXCLUSIVES: MARATHON: 2025 Tony-nominated shows and performers (YouTube Video) It's time to celebrate the best of Broadway! Watch "Sunday Morning" interviews with the creatives on stage and behind the scenes of this year's Tony Award-nominated shows. [And don't miss the Tony Awards ceremony broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ June 8.] FROM THE ARCHIVES: Dr. Robert Jarvik and the artificial heart (YouTube Video) Dr. Robert Jarvik, who designed the first permanent artificial heart implanted in a human, died on Monday, May 26, 2025, at age 79. He talked with correspondent Richard Wagner for this "CBS Sunday Morning" report on biomedical engineering projects that aired on Oct. 14, 1979, three years before that first artificial heart transplant. Wagner also talked with Dr. Wilhem Kolff (who invented the kidney dialysis machine); polymer chemist Dr. Donald Lyman; Dr. J.D. Mortensen (director of Surgical Research at the University of Utah); and with patients who were experiencing life with artificial limbs and kidneys. FROM THE ARCHIVES: Young tech entrepreneurs looking to the future (YouTube Video) Revisit these "CBS Sunday Morning" archive segments — from our 1998 interview with Elon Musk to our 2005 interview with Mark Zuckerberg, founder of and beyond. The Emmy Award-winning "CBS News Sunday Morning" is broadcast on CBS Sundays beginning at 9:00 a.m. ET. Executive producer is Rand Morrison. DVR Alert! Find out when "Sunday Morning" airs in your city "Sunday Morning" also streams on the CBS News app beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. (Download it here.) Full episodes of "Sunday Morning" are now available to watch on demand on and Paramount+, including via Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, Chromecast, Amazon FireTV/FireTV stick and Xbox. Follow us on Twitter/X; Facebook; Instagram; YouTube; TikTok; Bluesky; and at You can also download the free "Sunday Morning" audio podcast at iTunes and at Now you'll never miss the trumpet!
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas bill penalizing cities and counties for progressive policies misses House deadline
A proposal to expand a sweeping state law aimed at stopping Texas cities and counties from adopting progressive policies died Tuesday. Senate Bill 2858 would have given the Texas attorney general the power to sue cities and counties and blow huge holes in their budgets if they adopt local rules the state believes go further than what's allowed under broad swaths of state law. The bill missed a key legislative deadline Tuesday night and died before it could come up for a vote in the Texas House. SB 2858 sought to build on an expansive state law, dubbed the 'Death Star' bill by opponents, that aimed to erode the authority of local officials in the state's urban areas with the aim of stopping them from enacting left-leaning policies — the culmination of a decade-long push by GOP state lawmakers to curtail cities' ability to make policies that advance the progressive agenda or place undue burdens on businesses. The law, passed two years ago, made it illegal for localities to create laws that exceed certain broad areas of state law. Opponents of the law argued it made dealing with day-to-day matters like excessive noise more difficult for localities while laying waste to local labor protections and other policies. A group of cities has challenged the law's constitutionality in court, but the law is in effect. SB 2858 by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, would have expanded the areas of state law localities couldn't exceed. It also would've given the Texas attorney general the power to sue cities and counties for potential violations of the law. The state would freeze that city or county's sales and property tax revenue, effectively nuking their budget, for as long as the lawsuit lasts. Republican lawmakers argued such measures are necessary to make sure cities and counties are complying with the law. Local leaders and Democratic lawmakers argued the bill would have devastating financial impacts on cities and counties and a chilling effect on localities' ability to serve residents. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
