Benjamin Saltzman: The Art of Turning Away

Today on the Gist, why cruise ships are essentially floating vessels of exclusively bad news. Then, University of Chicago professor Benjamin A. Saltzman joins the show to discuss his book, Turning Away: The Poetics of an Ancient Gesture . He explores the artistic and emotional history of averting our gaze—and why looking away often signals profound engagement rather than indifference. Finally, in the Antwentig, a reality check on the gun control debate and the historical flaws in comparing it to the Civil Rights movement. Produced by Corey Wara Video and Social Media by Geoff Craig Do you have questions or comments, or just want to say hello? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠ thegist@mikepesca.com For full Pesca content and updates, check out our website at ⁠ For ad-free content or to become a Pesca Plus subscriber, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠ For Mike's daily takes on Substack,

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Benjamin Saltzman: The Art of Turning Away is an episode from The Gist by Mike Pesca.

This episode is 00:41:04 long.

This episode was published on May 8, 2026.

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