Tag Archives: Great Gatsby

Letting Others Clean Up Afghan Mess

By Robin Bates | Published: August 31, 2021

In Biden’s speech yesterday about withdrawing from Afghanistan, I half expected to hear him quote from “The Great Gatsby.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged Afghan withdrawal, Afghanistan War, F. Scott Fitzgerald | Comments closed

Book Proximity Makes You Smart

By Robin Bates | Published: May 23, 2019

Friday Scientific American recently reported on a study claiming that a childhood surrounded by books makes you smarter, even if you don’t actually read them. According to Karen Hopkins, Australian researchers have proved that “growing up in a home with a sizable library enhances literacy, number sense and even technological know-how in later life.” Apparently this […]

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged F. Scott Fitzgerald, reading | Comments closed

The Novels that Shaped John McCain

By Robin Bates | Published: August 28, 2018

McCain’s favorite novels included “Great Gatsby,” “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “Huckleberry Finn,” and works by Somerset Maugham. One can understand why.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, For Whom the Bell Tolls, Huckleberry Finn, John McCain, Kidnapped, Mark Twain, Of Human Bondage, Razor's Edge, Robert Louis Stevenson, Somerset Maugham, Tom Sawyer | Comments closed

Buchanan Would Be a Trump Enthusiast

By Robin Bates | Published: August 7, 2018

“Great Gatsby” describes life under Trump to a tee, with Tom Buchanan an archetype of the wealthy Trump supporter.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged Donald Trump, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Income inequality, Trump's border separation policy, zero tolerance | Comments closed

Trump Is Gatsby (But a Lot Meaner)

By Robin Bates | Published: March 9, 2017

Donald Trump is Jay Gatsby, albeit a Gatsby with a mean streak. Nevertheless, the rise of the character helps us understand the success of our current president.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged American Dream, Donald Trump, F. Scott Fitzgerald | Comments closed

Workers of the World, Read! (Then Unite)

By Robin Bates | Published: June 29, 2016

A “Washington Post” article argues that the arts are key in counteracting economic injustice. While this is true, the arts must be accompanied by smart politics to achieve this end.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged 2016 presidential election, Age of Innocence, Defense of Poesy, Donald Trump, Edith Wharton, F. Scott Fitzgerald, politics, Sir Philip Sidney | Comments closed

Sarah Palin as Daisy Buchanan

By Robin Bates | Published: January 21, 2016

New York Times columnist Ross Douthat, speaking for moderate Republicans who are being driven from the party, sees himself as Jay Gatsby jilted by Daisy. Sarah Palin was once his Daisy and Donald Trump could be compared to Tom Buchanan.