Arthur Schopenhauer “On the Suffering of the World” – book review

“Each of us is here being punished for his existence and each in his own particular way” (On the Suffering of the World) I picked up this book while waiting for a job interview and feeling slightly mournful about everything. It seemed appropriate. All I knew about Schopenhauer came from my high school textbook: a healthy dose of pessimism and a fascination with Eastern philosophy. … Continue reading Arthur Schopenhauer “On the Suffering of the World” – book review

Deborah Harkness “A Discovery of Witches” – book review

I had such mixed feelings about A Discovery of Witches. I really enjoyed the first half of it – it was Oxford, Twilight, and bits of Harry Potter combined. The heroine is an academic specializing in 17th-century alchemy. The main premise of the book is the worry of many an academic working in the Bodleian – Diane calls up a manuscript by accident, which turns … Continue reading Deborah Harkness “A Discovery of Witches” – book review