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Show notes
In all sorts of ways, the modern world makes it difficult to nurture our individual humanity and connect with the humanity of others. The disciplines that try to do so are, naturally enough, the humanities. Poet Elizabeth Alexander's new book, ">https://www.elizabethalexander.net/signals-across-vast-distances"> _Signals Across Vast Distances_, grapples with the question of how literature and other humanistic studies can help us build empathy and become better people, and why that task is crucial to a flourishing democratic society. Blog post with transcript: [">https://preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/2026/09/21/368-elizabeth-alexander-on-why-democracy-needs-imagination/">]( ) Use code MINDSCAPE at [https://monarch.com/]( https://monarch.com/">https://monarch.com/ to get your first year of Monarch Core half off at just $50\. #ad Upgrade your everyday with Quince and get free shipping and 365-day returns at [https://quince.com/MINDSCAPE]( https://quince.com/MINDSCAPE">https://quince.com/MINDSCAPE. #ad Listen or watch _Rolex Planet Visionaries_ wherever you get your podcasts. #ad ">https://schema.org/ImageObject"> _Support Mindscape on [https://www.patreon.com/seanmcarroll"]( Patreon._ Elizabeth Alexander received a Ph.D. in English from the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to her work as a poet and writer, she is currently the President of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. She composed and read a poem for Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009\. Among her honors are a Guggenheim Fellowship, a National Magazine Award, and several Pushcart Prizes for poetry. - [Web">https://www.elizabethalexander.net/">Web]( https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/elizabeth-alexander">Poetry]( https://www.amazon.com/stores/Elizabeth-Alexander/author/B0BKH4WDGV">]( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth\_Alexander\_(poet)">Wikipedia