Cullen Murphy

William L. Rathje

It is from the discards of former civilizations that archaeologists have reconstructed most of what we know about the past, and it is through their examination of today's garbage that William Rathje and Cullen Murphy inform us of our present. Rubbish! is their witty and erudite investigation into all aspects of the phenomenon of garbage. Rathje and Murphy show what the study of garbage tells us about a population's demographics and buying habits. Along the way, they dispel the common myths about our "garbage crisis"—about fast-food packaging and disposable diapers, about biodegradable garbage and the acceleration of the average family's garbage output. They also suggest methods for dealing with the garbage we do have.

The Archaeology of Garbage

Rubbish!

Examines how the Inquisition's sentiments are thriving in today's world, tracing the history of its legacy through stories that lead to modern incarnations like Vatican edicts, the Third Reich, and Guantanamo's detention camps.

The Inquisition and the Making of the Modern World

God's Jury

What went wrong in imperial Rome, and how we can avoid it: “If you want to understand where America stands in the world today, read this.” —Thomas E. Ricks The rise and fall of ancient Rome has been on American minds since the beginning of our republic. Depending on who’s doing the talking, the history of Rome serves as either a triumphal call to action—or a dire warning of imminent collapse. In this “provocative and lively” book, Cullen Murphy points out that today we focus less on the Roman Republic than on the empire that took its place, and reveals a wide array of similarities between the two societies (The New York Times). Looking at the blinkered, insular culture of our capitals; the debilitating effect of bribery in public life; the paradoxical issue of borders; and the weakening of the body politic through various forms of privatization, Murphy persuasively argues that we most resemble Rome in the burgeoning corruption of our government and in our arrogant ignorance of the world outside—two things that must be changed if we are to avoid Rome’s fate. “Are We Rome? is just about a perfect book. . . . I wish every politician would spend an evening with this book.” —James Fallows

The Fall of an Empire and the Fate of America

Are We Rome?

A prominent journalist reports on what the latest scholarship reveals about the women in Holy Writ--and the women, ancient and modern, who have been left out of it.

Women and the Bible in Ancient Times and Our Own

The Word According to Eve

A history of the cartoonists and illustrators from the Connecticut School, written by the son of the artist behind the popular strips "Prince Valiant" and "Big Ben Bolt," explores the achievements and pop-culture influence of these artists in the aftermath of World War II.

My Father and His Friends in the Golden Age of Make-Believe

Cartoon County

“A disarming, intelligent, and timely book” that re-examines religious history and scripture with a focus on the feminine experience (The New York Times). In the world that created the Bible, there were no female scholars and theologians, yet in recent decades, owing to such stunning discoveries as the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi texts, as well as advances in historical understanding and the rise of feminism, a generation of scholars has found new ways to interpret the Scriptures and the societies that created them—exploring avenues traditionally ignored by male-dominated religious study. Surveying the new scholarship and the personalities of those who have created it, The Word According to Eve not only explores afresh the history of our religions but offers exciting new challenges to our sense of worship. “Provocative and lucid . . . an engaging book.” —The Boston Globe

Cullen Murphy

About

Books

Join the club