This week's links. Enjoy.
Montaigne: The First Blogger
Over 400 years ago, Montaigne's personal essays were criticized for sharing too much trivial detail, such as his preference for white wine over red — something that sounds all too familiar to us today, in the era of Facebook, Twitter and of course the personal blog. Laura Miller of Salon revisits Montaigne in her review of Sarah Bakewell's new book How to Live, or A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer.
Long Live the Composing Stick!
Great Imprint post by Heidi Meredith, a graphic design student, about the rewards of taking letterpress classes, and how it's a welcome escape from the computer.
What We Can Learn From Procrastination
The New Yorker has a fascinating article on the very human phenomenon of procrastination, exploring new ideas on why we do it, and what it reveals about ourselves.
Ice Cream Flavor or Paint Color?
Can you tell the difference between the names of Pottery Barn paint colors and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavors? Take this Mental Floss quiz and find out!
Top Ten Writers on the Telephone
Nicholas Royle picks ten authors whose work features the telephone, with Raymond Carver, Marcel Proust, Franz Kafka and Elizabeth Bowen among others.
Gitte Lee in Vogue Italia
Have a look at the stunning and ageless Gitte Lee in a gorgeous photo shoot by Tim Walker for Vogue Italia. Via AnOther.
In Defence of Naive Reading
Thought provoking opinion piece by Robert Pippin in the NYT about how the formal study of literature in academia may in fact do a disservice to its actual enjoyment (and purpose).
Orange-Scented Olive Oil Cake
The Saveur recipe for this aromatic, densely textured Sicilian dessert is based on one from The Perfect Finish by Bill Yosses and Melissa Clark. I'm definitely going to try this one soon!
(photo of Jacqueline Morabito's stunning dining room by Jean-Michel Voge, via french by design)