The Letterjoy Blog

Edward Teller writing poetry in a Manhattan project lab

Read Physicist Edward Teller's Poem About Mesons

Michael Sitver

Everyone who saw Oppenheimer is familiar with physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer's love of poetry. If you saw the film, you also know of his strained relationship with the exceedingly pro-H-bomb Dr.... (Read More)

Read Physicist Edward Teller's Poem About Mesons

Michael Sitver

Everyone who saw Oppenheimer is familiar with physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer's love of poetry. If you saw the film, you also know of his strained relationship with the exceedingly pro-H-bomb Dr.... (Read More)

Abraham Lincoln pile of books and letters

Every Book We Know That Abraham Lincoln Read

Michael Sitver

In our series on famous defense attorneys, we shared with readers a letter about Abraham Lincoln's famous "almanac case". If you aren't familiar, the "almanac case," argued in 1858, was... (Read More)

Every Book We Know That Abraham Lincoln Read

Michael Sitver

In our series on famous defense attorneys, we shared with readers a letter about Abraham Lincoln's famous "almanac case". If you aren't familiar, the "almanac case," argued in 1858, was... (Read More)

Introducing "Letters About Writing"

Introducing "Letters About Writing"

Michael Sitver

Dear readers, Happy November! As a “word nerd,” I love reading letters from famous authors, but since these rarely qualify as “American history,” they rarely fit the criteria for inclusion... (Read More)

Introducing "Letters About Writing"

Michael Sitver

Dear readers, Happy November! As a “word nerd,” I love reading letters from famous authors, but since these rarely qualify as “American history,” they rarely fit the criteria for inclusion... (Read More)

Book Review: "The Strenuous Life" By Ryan Swanson

Book Review: "The Strenuous Life" By Ryan Swanson

Michael Sitver

"Theodore Roosevelt and sports" sounds, at first glance, like a pretty narrow and confining topic for a book. It isn't. The story of Theodore Roosevelt's involvement in and influence on American... (Read More)

Book Review: "The Strenuous Life" By Ryan Swanson

Michael Sitver

"Theodore Roosevelt and sports" sounds, at first glance, like a pretty narrow and confining topic for a book. It isn't. The story of Theodore Roosevelt's involvement in and influence on American... (Read More)

Charles Dickens Was Not A Fan Of Unicorns

Charles Dickens Was Not A Fan Of Unicorns

Michael Sitver

 Recently, while reading through the letters of Charles Dickens, I came across this gem: Dickens declining to publish a "scientific" paper on unicorns in his journal. It doesn't really fit... (Read More)

Charles Dickens Was Not A Fan Of Unicorns

Michael Sitver

 Recently, while reading through the letters of Charles Dickens, I came across this gem: Dickens declining to publish a "scientific" paper on unicorns in his journal. It doesn't really fit... (Read More)

The CIA Once Tried To Use Trained Cats For Eavesdropping. It Didn't Go Well.

The CIA Once Tried To Use Trained Cats For Eavesdropping. It Didn't Go Well.

Michael Sitver

I've been digging into declassified CIA files this month to find some letters for our "Spytech" theme. While doing so, I came across quite a few quirky projects, but one stood... (Read More)

The CIA Once Tried To Use Trained Cats For Eavesdropping. It Didn't Go Well.

Michael Sitver

I've been digging into declassified CIA files this month to find some letters for our "Spytech" theme. While doing so, I came across quite a few quirky projects, but one stood... (Read More)