Review Archives - Riding the Dragon

An Iconic Photographer’s Third Act A review of Stephen Shore's impressionistic memoir, Modern Instances

Stephen Shore's new book Modern Instances: The Craft of Photography is an impressionistic memoir of anecdotes, reflections and influences by the iconic photographer and photographic educator.

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A Distinct Cut A Review of Martin Kollár's Photobook After

Martin Kollár’s new book After is autobiographical, collecting images made for a project-in-progress with his partner, Mária Rumanová, who ended her own life in 2019, and editing them together anew.

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What Fools These Mortals Be A review of Immortal by Maija Tammi and Ville Tietäväinen

In the new photobook Immortal: Lost Memoirs of Cornelia Dulac Concerning the Freshwater Polyp Hydra, authors Maija Tammi and Ville Tietäväinen give us a fictionalized account of true scientific studies of Hydra—a biological immortal.

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Why trust science? A review of Naomi Oreskes' book in defense of science

In her provocatively titled book, Why Trust Science?, Naomi Oreskes builds a bridge across the divide between those who are for and against science.

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Putting Peer Pressure to Work A Review of Robert H. Frank's book Under the Influence, in the Time of Coronavirus

In new book Under the Influence: Putting Peer Pressure to Work, Robert H. Frank makes the case that, given how powerful behavior is as a contagion, it is prudent to put this to good use.

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The Self-Absorption of Creation A Review of Patricia Townsend's book Creative States of Mind

In the book, Creative States of Mind: Psychoanalysis and the Artist’s Process, Patricia Townsend approaches the intersection of mind and creativity through psychoanalysis, focusing on the unconscious mind as responsible for our beliefs and behaviors.

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What Do You Think Is Art? A review of Ellen Winner’s book How Art Works

In the new book How Art Works, Ellen Winner walks us through the foundations of how we think about art, touching on questions, research, and theory.

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Olafur Eliasson’s Art of Playful Seriousness A review of the Tate Modern exhibition Olafur Eliasson: In Real Life

From now until 5 January 2020 at the Tate Modern: a mid-career survey of the works of Olafur Eliasson: life-size encounters that engage and confound the senses to trigger what can only be called “experiences.”

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Values as Stars to Steer By A review of Well-Being as Value Fulfillment by Valerie Tiberius

In her new book Well-Being as Value Fulfillment, Valerie Tiberius tries to address the question from the a life well-lived perspective of others; that is, how we can help others in a meaningful way beyond dispensing advice, wringing our hands at their dilemmas, or walking away in frustration when—according to us—they just won’t help themselves.

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Creative Potential A Review of Becoming Creative: Insights from Musicians in a Diverse World by Juniper Hill

In Becoming Creative, Juniper Hill speaks to musicians in Los Angeles, Cape Town and Helsinki about their personal histories, experiences, and viewpoints to trace patterns of creation.

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