New Criticism

Thirty years have passed since Cornel West's book Race Matters rose to the top of the bestseller lists in 1993. Yet his book remains as relevant as ever to American culture-even more so, if one considers its influence on contemporary racial justice movements such as Black Lives Matter, prison justice, and the fight for police reform. Prophetic Leadership and Visionary Hope looks back to the original 1993 text and forward into the future of racial understanding and healing in our current century.

This book reveals, for the first time, the story behind the writing of ‘Desiderata’. Beloved by millions, the poem was first published in 1927, but its true origins, along with the life of its author, have largely been lost to literary history. This account by actor and author Tim Dalgleish includes not only the story of ‘Desiderata’ but two additional, previously unpublished, chapters from a forthcoming biography of Max Ehrmann. This new material helps bring Max Ehrmann, the author of 'Desiderata', out of the shadows.

Dangerous Theatre records the activities of the various organizations of the Federal Theatre Project involved with fostering the writing and production of new plays during the FTP's existence (1935-39). It presents a comprehensive and thorough picture of how playwrights actually worked and how their work was received by general audiences and critics.

Are you a newly promoted manager feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to start? You’re not alone—58% of new managers receive little to no training, making the transition daunting. But with the right knowledge, you can confidently lead and inspire your team, build trust, and earn respect.

Between 1936 and 1963, Judy Garland performed in thirty-three major motion pictures. That period marked a sea change in American history in which the United States was transformed from a sovereign nation in relative isolation in the Western hemisphere to a superpower on the world stage. As the cinema was changing dramatically during that quarter of a century, Garland was successfully adapting her performing style to new conventions.

Did you know that only one in five musicals recoup the initial costs of production? In Marketing Broadway: The Business Behind the Art, you'll learn precisely what makes a successful Broadway show. Marketing Broadway is for anyone who wants to know why good shows don’t always succeed. It’s for the theater aficionado, the business person, but most importantly, it’s for the artist in you!

This essay comes from the NPR series This I Believe, which features brief personal reflections from both famous and unknown Americans. The pieces that make up the series compel listeners to rethink not only what and how they have arrived at their beliefs, but also the extent to which they share them with others.

Released in 1974, Sweet Home Alabama has become synonymous with Southern rock. From its opening guitar riff, it is instantly recognizable, a raucous, irreverent defense of a Deep South state and its segregationist governor against the jabs of Neil Young. But the roots of Lynyrd Skynyrd's best-selling anthem go much deeper than regional pride or resentment of a fellow rocker.