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Richard Rabil, Jr.

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Tag: Books

Love in Action Is a Harsh and Dreadful Thing

May 27, 2022June 14, 2022 ~ Richard Rabil, Jr.

A dialogue between Madame Hohlakov and Elder Zossima in 'The Brothers Karamazov' provides a troubling yet vital portrait of what it means to love others. It is a portrait that flies in the face of the reward systems of social media.

What Really Matters in an Argument

June 15, 2021June 22, 2021 ~ Richard Rabil, Jr.

“The only part of an argument that really matters is what we think of the people arguing." So goes one line in this passage from Kim Stanley Robinson's sci-fi novel about settlers on Mars. I think it's more true than we want to admit.

Living in Tolkien’s Groundhog Day

March 10, 2021June 22, 2021 ~ Richard Rabil, Jr.

A journey through the Old Forest looks totally different from my day-to-day existence. Yet this passage from Tolkien is a pretty apt description of what I found life to be like in 2020, and continues to be like in 2021---a description that resonates more deeply with me than the Groundhog Day metaphor.

The Naive Optimism of Reading Challenging Books

January 12, 2021February 15, 2021 ~ Richard Rabil, Jr.

With the new year comes new resolutions, a common one being to read new books that challenge you. The idea is that doing so will expand your mind, make you a better person. But is that the inevitable outcome of such an endeavor? English professor Micah Mattix doesn't think so.

What Every Writer Wants: Update June 4, 2019

June 4, 2019November 13, 2019 ~ Richard Rabil, Jr.

It's quite simple, really: A public pension, encouragement to keep going, and assurance that not all the stories worth telling have been told.

How the Used Bookstore Near Me Stays in Business: Update May 16, 2019

May 16, 2019October 3, 2020 ~ Richard Rabil, Jr.

I share about a recent visit to my local used bookstore. How has it stayed in business while Amazon dominates the market?

An Assortment of Kings: Update April 15, 2019

April 16, 2019April 18, 2019 ~ Richard Rabil, Jr. ~ 3 Comments

In which I got some sweet books from a used book sale and started reading Sanderson's 'The Way of Kings' despite initial misgivings. Brief updates too on my essay and fiction writing.

Make the Most Beautiful Thing You Can: Update March 25, 2019

March 25, 2019March 31, 2019 ~ Richard Rabil, Jr.

"None of us know what will happen. Don't spend time worrying about it. Make the most beautiful thing you can. Try to do that every day. That's it." ~Laurie Anderson

The Prodigal Son: Update March 4, 2019

March 11, 2019March 11, 2019 ~ Richard Rabil, Jr.

Lent, Rembrandt, and updates on various writing projects (just submitted another article, yay!). Recommended readings on MLK and celibacy.

What I’m Up To: February 25, 2019

February 25, 2019March 5, 2019 ~ Richard Rabil, Jr.

From the day I started this blog, I haven't committed to a strict blogging cadence. Until I do that (and I really should), if I don't have any well-formed thoughts to publish, I'll settle instead for giving a brief update on what I'm reading and working on.

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Recent Posts

  • Robert Eggers on Creative Work in a Non-Religious World
  • Why I Deleted Facebook and Instagram from My Phone
  • Love in Action Is a Harsh and Dreadful Thing
  • To Kill Debate
  • Flame of Love
  • Why Churches Are So Contentious
  • Unconscious Bias Training Flaws

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