The Rabbit Room

Hello Malcolm,

In your book you recommend Robin Kirkpatrick’s translation of Dante. Is that translation still your preferred one? Are there others you would recommend?

Thank you!

I’ve returned to this discussion, as one does, because of an idea that keeps coming back. Haven’t we, as white people, committed a sin of fleshlessness when we told Black people they could be saved “in their souls” but not in their bodies? (I know we weren’t there when that “gospel” was preached, but I think it’s important to own my history.) And…[Read more]

I think smallness means (if not demands) paying attention and being open to wonder. It’s having a childlike sense of awe and delight—which we sometimes lose as we grow older. Maybe it’s like Blake says, seeing a world in a grain of sand. Or Chesterton, with his thoughts on God’s delight in making the sun to shine again and each individual petal o…[Read more]

Haha, I also noted The Screwtape Letters!

Capon’s thoughts reminded me of how we tend to compartmentalize the body, mind, and spirit, which leads to a devaluing of the three. That, or we can overspiritualize, which leads to the same result, albeit through over-valuing. Some priests talked about this recently on their podcast, noting that we…[Read more]

I listened to Frank Wilczek, a physicist, in conversation with Krista Tippett of On Being this morning, and he would agree with Capon. He sees beauty as a defining principle of reality—and takes great delight in discovering that beauty. For him, the presence of beauty urges him to consider how he could make the world more beautiful. I like that. I…[Read more]

I’m Erin, and I live in Austin. One of my favorite meals is the fresh bread and coffee at Feed Cafe in Bozeman, Montana. I ate almost all my breakfasts there, and I felt good about it since I didn’t have a car and ended up walking between 12 and 15 miles every day.

I also remember eating a turkey burger with Granny apple slices at Thunder Burger…[Read more]

I think you’re onto something with the “use” oriented mindset, particularly in the West. If it isn’t useful, we tend to dismiss it. We can also be impatient. But being attentive requires patience and “inefficiency.” Then again, we’re patient for the things we love. [Insert some James K.A. Smith or Augustine reference here. :)]

Capon’s thoughts on…[Read more]

I have type 1 diabetes, so I can’t be as exuberant as Capon in his enjoyment of pasta and bread. Or—I could, but I would pay for it eventually, and the cost simply isn’t worth considering. (I observed a grandparent with T1D eat whatever he wanted and go blind and lose a foot.) I also struggled with an eating disorder many, many years ago. Both t…[Read more]

Hello! Erin in Austin here. I’m looking forward to reading and discussing this book with you!