Today's New York Observer "Off the Record" column offers some background on that Michael Kinsley review of conservative pundit David Brooks' new book that was excerpted here yesterday, eight posts below this one. The NYO also mentions that this coming Sunday's New York Times Book Review will have a review on the cover for the first time in a long while -- Tony Hendra's Father Joe, critiqued by Andrew Sullivan. Hendra, by the way, looks to be on the verge of launching a blog — he's got the Typepad account and the under-construction main page that reads:

we're still under construction here looking for eye-bonking graphics, but if you have any vitriol or toxins to unload here about anything else on my site, go nuts. i only ask that it's at least vaguely amusing.

The blog is attached to Hendra's official website. Thanks to Stephanie for the pointers to both.

* Also: Marc Cooper blogs in response to a separate NYO piece by Ben Smith on the changes in debate and political lines that might ensue if the Republicans moved to the center.