Books v. Cigarettes

Books v. Cigarettes'If our book consumption remains as low as it has been, at least let us admit that it is because reading is a less exciting pastime than going to the dogs, the pictures or the pub' George Orwell Beginning with a dilemma about whether he spends more money on reading or smoking, George Orwells entertaining and uncompromising essays go on to explore everything from the perils of second hand bookshops to the dubious profession of being a critic, from

"San Tropez" feels out of place with the rest of Meddle

Antony Beevor’s inimitably gripping narrative conveys the true experience of war

and fresh hope glimpsed with clear eyes in unexpected places

Stalin and his secret police set out to convert a dozen radically different countries to a completely new political and moral system – Communism

the archetype of the witch has evolved from the tales of Odysseus and Circe

the Palme d’Or–winning sex

but the double-album London Calling is a remarkable leap forward

Each picture conveys the humanity of its subject with a serene melancholy that is uniquely and unmistakably Lindbergh

Our joys and laments are mirrored in the cycle of the seasons

This may sound like a pure stoner comedy

as bizarre occurrences—involving underground-art punks

revealing how America’s once neglected culture became respected and adored