The Trash Collector: Better Living Through Bad Taste

A philosophy professor explains why our “guilty pleasures” aren’t mere indulgences, but a secret path to a good life.

Trash: You know it when you see it—the cheesy reality show, the made-for-TV movie, the garbage disdained by people of good taste. But philosopher Matthew Strohl argues that “good taste” might be a trap that narrows our horizons and mutes the expressive power of our own unique preferences. Instead, Strohl encourages us to nurture our weirdest curiosities and explore the libera...