In the deep South of the United States, when sunlight breaks through a gentle rain, you might hear someone say, “The devil’s beating his wife.” It’s a phrase that stops many outsiders in thei…| Atkins Bookshelf
1 post published by Alexander Atkins during September 2025| Atkins Bookshelf
There are moments when a poem reaches you before you even read it, when the circumstance of discovery adds a layer of meaning to the text. That’s how I came across Stephen Kuusisto’s Letters to Bor…| Atkins Bookshelf
1 post published by Alexander Atkins during August 2025| Atkins Bookshelf
If you were a baby boomer, chances are your first encounter with a keyboard was in a high school typing class, fingers poised over the home row keys, eyes on the chalkboard. And what were you typin…| Atkins Bookshelf
2 posts published by Alexander Atkins during July 2025| Atkins Bookshelf
Serendipitous Discoveries from the Dictionary was written and designed by a logophile for fellow lovers of language. It is both an elegant homage to the English language and a celebration of its expressive richness, historical depth, and boundless creativity. The book is divided into two parts. The first features a series of detailed essays that … Continue reading New Book: Serendipitous Discoveries from the Dictionary| Atkins Bookshelf
Given the current state of America — polarized politics, climate anxiety, technological overload, and an ever-spinning wheel of noise — have you ever wondered what it might be like to walk away? To…| Atkins Bookshelf
In the trailer for the horror film 28 Years Later, viewers are introduced to a chilling and evocative soundscape: the haunting words of Rudyard Kipling’s poem Boots, crackling from an old, scratche…| Atkins Bookshelf
George Clooney recently returned to the stage in a powerful Broadway adaptation of Good Night, and Good Luck, co-written with longtime collaborator Grant Heslov. The play, which opened on April 3, …| Atkins Bookshelf
On May 29, 2025, Faizan Zaki, a 13-year-old from Allen, Texas, clinched victory in the 97th Scripps National Spelling Bee by correctly spelling éclaircissement in the 21st round of the finals. This triumph marked a remarkable comeback for Zaki, who had finished as the runner-up in 2024. His dedication — practicing over 40 hours a … Continue reading Challenging Words from the 2025 Spelling Bee Championship| Atkins Bookshelf
Following the unexpected death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, the world’s attention shifted once again to the time-honored traditions of the Catholic Church, particularly the …| Atkins Bookshelf
Galileo Galilei (1564–1642), the renowned Italian astronomer, physicist, engineer, and philosopher, stood at the forefront of the Scientific Revolution. A visionary whose insights reshaped our unde…| Atkins Bookshelf
When was the last time you read a book dedication? Even though they are just a few words long, most people skip reading the dedication of a book; however, dedications in books are important for sev…| Atkins Bookshelf