Topics
Arts & Culture
How Bernie Madoff Helped the Art Market
Chairman, PaceWildenstein Galleries
There are more masterpieces available to people now than ever before, says gallery owner Arne Glimcher.
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Is "Fahrenheit 451" Our Most Overrated Required Reading?
Is Ray Bradbury's most famous work nothing more than an "authorial circle jerk"? Watch
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The “Vomit Out” Writing Strategy
Author and journalist Calvin Trillin relies on a noteless predraft when he composes his articles, which he deems the "vomit out." Watch
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Will Black Ever Go Out of Style?
From prostitutes to nuns, it’s a color with layers of meaning, says fashion historian Valerie Steele. That doesn’t mean it’s here to stay—for now. Watch
Related Blogs
The Voice of Big Think
November 20, 2009 — 9:54 AM
"You Better Not Cry" author Augusten Burroughs treats fans to a second Big Think interview this week, just in time for the holiday season. Famous since his 2001 bestseller "Running With Scissors" as a memoirist of the humorous, painful, and bizarre, Burroughs shares his view of Christmas as an essentially tragic holiday with a tiny nougat of joy inside the bitter candy coating. Read more
The Voice of Big Think
November 19, 2009 — 12:11 AM
Jim McManus visited Big Think today to talk about the poker habits of the men who have inhabited the White House. The stories he told come from his new book "Cowboys Full: The Story of Poker." We'll post our video interview with him in the coming days. In the meantime, if you like poker, take a look at our conversation with female gamester Annie Duke. Read more
Latest Ideas
"You Better Not Cry" author Augusten Burroughs treats fans to a second Big Think interview this week, just in time for the holiday season. Famous since his 2001 bestseller "Running With Scissors" as a memoirist of the humorous, painful, and bizarre, Burroughs shares his view of Christmas as an essentially tragic holiday with a tiny nougat of joy inside the bitter candy coating. Read More
November 20, 2009
An Augusten Burroughs Christmas
The "You Better Not Cry" author describes the holiday as a gem of happiness wrapped in a package of tragedy. Read More
November 20, 2009
“No Such Thing as Too Ordinary to Write About”
Augusten Burroughs explains why his famously offbeat life is no more interesting than your own. Read More
November 20, 2009
Augusten Burroughs has called humor the “spoonful of sugar” that relieves the bitterness of his work—sometimes. But does it come naturally? Read More
November 20, 2009
Augusten Burroughs: Lives I'd Love To Live
Given the chance to inhabit other lives, the “Running With Scissors” author would pick those of other famous, suffering writers. Read More
November 20, 2009
“The Internet Is Our Most Profound and Beautiful Achievement”
Other authors fret about the impact of the Web, but Augusten Burroughs “would not want to even be alive” without it. Read More
November 20, 2009
Jim McManus visited Big Think today to talk about the poker habits of the men who have inhabited the White House. The stories he told come from his new book "Cowboys Full: The Story of Poker." We'll post our video interview with him in the coming days. In the meantime, if you like poker, take a look at our conversation with female gamester Annie Duke. Read More
November 19, 2009
"Stitches" Win Would Be No Small Feat
Later this evening, the literary community finds out whether David Small's "Stitches" will be the first graphic novel ever to win a National Book Award. This morning, Big Think asked Mr. Small what the honor would mean to him personally and whether he believes (as some of his fans do) that his book was nominated in the wrong category. His answer, which will be posted prior to the ceremony, revealed much about which side he takes in the eternal conflict between young people and grown-ups. Read More
November 18, 2009
Daily Ideafeed
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Sun Sets
No Oprah -
The sun will set on the Oprah Winfrey Show – on of America’s most popular TV shows – in September 2011 after two decades on the airwaves.
November 20, 2009
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Fitting?
Epileptic Dancer -
A dancer with epilepsy has stopped taking her medication and is hoping to have a seizure on stage to raise awareness about “an invisible disability.”
November 20, 2009
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Quidditch
Snitch Catching -
Harvard is the latest US University to take up the fictional wizard-sport Quidditch which features in the Harry Potter books.
November 20, 2009
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Sarah Palin
Hacked Off -
Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin called the hacking of her Yahoo e-mail account the “most disruptive and discouraging” incident in her campaign.
November 19, 2009
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To The Letter
Respectfully, Lincoln -
A letter written by former US president Abraham Lincoln to a schoolboy around 150 years ago is to go on sale.
November 18, 2009
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Photo Fodder
Sealing The Deal -
An underwater photographer was shocked when a leopard seal tried to feed him a live penguin.
November 17, 2009
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Cultural Property?
Age and Antiquities -
Should archaeological artifacts remain in the country in which they were found – or does the law of “finder’s keepers” prevail?
November 17, 2009
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Lang Lang
Piano Man -
Is Lang Lang the most popular pianist on the planet? CNN talks to China’s biggest prodigy a year after he took to the world’s stage.
November 17, 2009
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Fact Chequered
“Opposition Research” -
Former governor Sarah Palin has gone after the Associated Press accusing them of “opposition research” for fact checking her forthcoming book.
November 16, 2009
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Yuletide Horror
Scary Santa -
Residents in Auckland, New Zealand are up in arms about a “creepy” giant statue of Santa Claus sporting plastic surgery installed in the city centre.
November 16, 2009
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E-Grammar
Literate PC? -
Exam-marking by computers shows that the rules of grammar can hamper good writing – but are machines qualified to make literary assessment?
November 16, 2009
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Inside View
Living With Osama -
A new book by Osama Bin Laden’s first wife and son give an insiders’ view on one of the world’s most notorious terrorists.
November 16, 2009
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Russia
Little Wonder -
In response to Europe’s “Seven Wonders of the World” list which didn’t include Russia, the former Soviet Republic has compiled its own list of “wonders”.
November 13, 2009
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Burlesque
American Tease -
Dita Von Teese has given up Los Angeles for Paris because “Europe gets her art.”
November 12, 2009
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Carrie Prejean
Unstylish Exit -
An attempt by Carrie Prejean to storm off Larry King was thwarted by dithering and a commercial break.
November 12, 2009
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Toy Craze
Zhu Zhu Pet! -
The hottest toy to hit the shops this Christmas looks like a cross between a hamster and a Furby.
November 11, 2009
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Vamp Weekend
Contra Game -
Brooklyn band Vampire Weekend has disappointed Nicaraguan counter-revolutionaries by revealing that their new album “Contra” is named after a video game.
November 11, 2009
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EBF3 Machine
Not Far Trek -
A group of NASA engineers have perfected a replicating machine that resembles something out of Star Trek.
November 11, 2009
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Book Plan
Digital Library -
Google and copyright holders’ proposed digital library settlement has outraged its competitors.
November 10, 2009
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Harlem
Precious Little? -
A new film about a hopeless ghetto teen is actually fresh and interesting – not just "another brick in the wall for African Americans".
November 10, 2009
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Psychic Spy?
Staring At Goats -
Some claim the light hearted tone of new film “The Men who Stare at Goats” belies the steely complexity of the real-life figure the central character is based on.
November 10, 2009
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In the Show
Interactive TV -
Interactive TV could be on the verge of allowing viewers to take part in the on-screen action.
November 9, 2009
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Get Thee To…
Law’s Hamlet Hit -
A production of Hamlet starring Jude Law is a commercial success after recouping its $2.5m costs in less than three months.
November 6, 2009
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Puzzling Art
Rubik’s Cubism -
An artist has been recreating masterpieces using rubik’s cubes instead of paint.
November 5, 2009
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For Art’s Sake
Christie’s Falls Short -
A Picasso remained unsold at an auction of Impressionist and modern art at Christie’s New York which yesterday failed to hit a $68.6m target.
November 4, 2009