Hope Everyone at LOA is Doing Well!

DCloyceSmith:

I know, I know: this ISN'T an official subject regarding LOA books. Just wanted to pen a quick note saying, "I -- and I'm sure every other regular commentator -- am hopeful that everyone at LOA is doing well during this once in a lifetime health crisis. Especially given who is in charge in the USA (referring of course, to the President and his administration, and, of course, the GOP Senatorial "leadership").

A close relative of mine happens to be a Microbiologist. A PhD. While she was one of the first to point out that people are acting in a crazed fashion -- Covid19 is, after all, part and parcel of the "cold & flu" family -- it IS important that everyone learn to live under more isolated conditions, and allow the virus to die off, etc., in order to not overwhelm the Health care people. Especially in the USA, where healthcare coverage was only just starting to catch up with the rest of the developed world.

All best!

Thanks for checking in. Like most New York "non-essentials," all of our employees have been working from home for two weeks and all are doing well. There will be challenges in the months ahead--warehouse availability, printer availability, and paper availability at the top of the list--but most of our fall titles are already ready to go to press so we hope this head start will give us a jump on the season.

David

Grateful to hear of it, and I do find that when non-essential services can proceed with their work, observing physical distancing and such, it's a positive: certainly for the individual employee and employer, but also for society generally. The best outcome is not only preventing COVID-19 as much as we're capable of doing, but at the same time furthering the other work of our communities.

I'm very happy to hear that everyone at LOA is well, too. When we think of essential services in this troubling time, grocery stores, pharmacies, etc. come to mind first. Our immediate needs must be attended to. However in the long run, what is essential applies to a broader group of enterprises. Anything that promotes and maintains our cultural heritage is IMHO of paramount importance. LOA is front and central in that category. Live long and prosper.

David(CloyceSmith): Echoing the sentiments of others, and saying, yes: you folks at the LOA are DEFINITELY essential. Reading and books are, and always have been, essential in my view (used to skip a meal now and then, when I was younger, and buy books -- from HALF PRICE in Texas, and elsewhere -- instead. Food for the "soul", fuel for intellectual fires). So, delighted to learn you ,and everyone else at LOA, are doing well.

By the by: although I can't abide by the majority of those who proudly label themselves as such, and therefore have given a pass on the volume, the "New York Times" just ran a review of AMERICAN CONSERVATISM
Reclaiming an Intellectual Tradition, Edited by Andrew J. Bacevich.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/books/review/american-conservatism-andrew-j-b...