Wide Sargasso Sea is a novel by Jean Rhys that delves into the life of Antoinette Cosway, a Creole heiress who becomes the 'madwoman in the attic' in Charlotte Brontë's 'Jane Eyre'. The novel explores themes of identity, colonialism, and feminism, set against the backdrop of post-emancipation Jamaica. It provides a powerful exploration of the racial and cultural conflicts that contribute to Antoinette's tragic fate.
This book is a cutting-edge tour de force that traces human family life from its origins in Africa over 4 million years ago to the Internet dating sites and bedrooms of today. It covers various aspects such as natural courting ploys, the biology of adultery, love addictions, chemically-based personality styles, worldwide patterns of divorce, and how brain science can help in making and keeping happy partnerships. Fisher examines marriage and divorce in 58 societies and adultery in 42 cultures, arguing that modern patterns of love and sex echo our ancient past, and she remains optimistic about the future of relationships in the digital age.
In this book, Musa al-Gharbi argues that despite the rise of a new elite who identify as allies of progressive causes such as antiracism, feminism, and LGBTQ rights, social and economic inequalities have continued to grow. These symbolic capitalists, who work primarily with words, ideas, images, and data, genuinely believe in egalitarian principles but inadvertently contribute to and perpetuate the very inequalities they oppose. The book examines how their actions and narratives often provoke backlash against the social justice causes they champion and argues that challenging these self-serving narratives is crucial for addressing social and economic inequality effectively.
In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Peter Suderman gawk at the amusing circumstances surrounding the federal indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, before discussing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent in-person visits with both presidential candidates.
02:25—New York City Mayor Eric Adams indicted in a federal corruption investigation
21:58—Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump
35:46—Weekly listener question
49:27—This week's cultural recommendations
Mentioned in this podcast:
"Turkish Delight" by Liz Wolfe
"Could Eric Adams' Corruption Charges Sink His Signature Zoning Reform?" by Christian Britschgi
"The "Migrant Crisis" is Caused by Flawed Work and Housing Policies, not Migrants" by Ilya Somin
"NYC Mayoral Frontrunner Eric Adams Talks Conspiratorial Nonsense About 'Voter Suppression,'" by Matt Welch
"Port Authoritarians" by Jim Epstein
"You take someone on heroin, put them in one room, and someone hooked on cheese, put 'em in another room, and you take it away, I challenge you to tell me the person who's hooked on heroin and who's hooked on cheese." New York City Mayor Eric Adams
"NYC paid millions for unnecessary migrant services, comptroller's report says" by Marcia Kramer
"'Vegan' Mayor Eric Adams Under Fire for Repeatedly Ordering Fish at NYC Restaurants" by Luke Fortney
"NYC Mayor Adams' Approval Hit Bottom Even Before Scandal" by Katarina Buchholz
"The War in Ukraine Is Already Over—Russia Just Doesn't Know it Yet" by Paul Schwennesen
"Ukraine Is Safer If It Stays Out of NATO" by Paul Schwennesen
"What If the U.S. Cuts Off Aid to Israel?" by Matt Welch
"Send in the Estonians?" by Liz Wolfe
"U.S. Defense Spending Continues To Spiral Out of Control" by Varad Raingoankar
"What if America Runs Out of Bombs?" by Matthew Petti
"After the War" by Matt Welch
"Rents Fall and Listings Increase After Javier Milei Ends Rent Control In Argentina" by Katarina Hall
"Helen Fisher on COVID's Sexless Summer" by Nick Gillespie
"Dr. Helen Fisher on How Brain Chemistry Determines Personality and Politics" by Ian Keyser
"Helen Fisher, Who Researched the Brain's Love Circuitry, Dies at 79" by Richard Sandomir
Upcoming Events:
Reason Speakeasy: Musa al-Gharbi October 24, 2024
Send your questions to roundtable@reason.com. Be sure to include your social media handle and the correct pronunciation of your name.
Today's sponsors:
- Qualia Senolytic: Have you heard about senolytics yet? It's a class of ingredients discovered less than 10 years ago, and it's being called the biggest discovery of our time for promoting healthy aging and enhancing your physical prime. Your goals in your career and beyond require productivity. But let's be honest: The aging process is not our friend when it comes to endless energy and productivity. As we age, everyone accumulates "senescent" cells in their body. Senescent cells cause symptoms of aging, such as aches and discomfort, slow workout recoveries, and sluggish mental and physical energy associated with that "middle age" feeling. Also known as "Zombie Cells," they are old and worn out and not serving a useful function for our health anymore, but they are taking up space and nutrients from our healthy cells. Much like pruning the yellowing and dead leaves off a plant, Qualia Senolytic removes those worn-out senescent cells to allow for the rest of your cells to thrive in the body. Take it just two days a month. The formula is non-GMO, vegan, and gluten-free, and the ingredients are meant to complement one another, factoring in the combined effect of all ingredients together. Resist aging at the cellular level and try Qualia Senolytic. Go to Qualialife.com/ROUNDTABLE for up to 50 percent off and use code ROUNDTABLE at checkout for an additional 15 percent off. For your convenience, Qualia Senolytic is also available at select GNC locations near you.
- In an election year, getting overwhelmed by the constant buzz of news and opinions is easy. Understanding the true impact of political events can be a challenge. Not Another Politics Podcast, from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, provides clear, research-driven perspectives on the biggest issues. Get the insights you need to truly understand the political landscape—no spin, just facts. Subscribe today at harris.uchicago.edu/napp or look for Not Another Politics Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.
Audio production by Ian Keyser
Assistant production by Hunt Beaty
Music: "Angeline," by The Brothers Steve
- Video Editor: Ian Keyser
- Producer: Hunt Beaty
The post Eric Adams and New York City's Corruption Problem appeared first on Reason.com.
The Reason Roundtable 
