Richard Carrier gives enthusiastic recommendations for three recent books* related to ancient science.

"These are the kinds of authors I wish I were, and strive to be. All three books are entirely approachable to laymen, yet all are advanced, cutting-edge works, and will be required reading for experts in their respective subjects for decades to come."

 

* The Catapult: A History

  Technology and Culture in Greek and Roman Antiquity

  Creationism and Its Critics in Antiquity 

Three Books for the Aspiring Language Guy

(via ADYNATON)

Liberalism vs. Humanism
by James Piereson
The New Criterion

On the battle between learning for the sake of learning and learning for utility.

Charles Van Doren's The Joy of Reading (subt. "210 Favorite Books, Plays, Poems, Essays, Etc - What's in Them, Why Read Them) is back in print, apparently as a new edition (subt. "A Passionate Guide to 189 of the World's Best Authors and Their Works").