Dreaming in French: On Angela Davis Dreaming in French: On Angela Davis
Angela Davis’s student years in France were an alchemy of discipline and distraction.
Mar 14, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Alice Kaplan
Galileo’s Credo Galileo’s Credo
Two new biographies differ over the astronomer’s view of the relationship between science and faith.
Feb 15, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Paula Findlen
Awakenings: On Margaret Sanger Awakenings: On Margaret Sanger
Margaret Sanger’s legacy continues to haunt debates about abortion and family planning.
Feb 7, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Michelle Goldberg
Marriage, Power and ‘The Obamas’ Marriage, Power and ‘The Obamas’
The swirl of controversy over Jodi Kantor’s biography reflects deep cultural anxieties about the limits we place on women in power.
Jan 18, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Ilyse Hogue
Beattitudes: On Ann Beattie Beattitudes: On Ann Beattie
Ann Beattie is an artist of the things we don’t say, or can’t, and that find expression anyway.
Nov 22, 2011 / Books & the Arts / William Deresiewicz
This Is Just to Say: On William Carlos Williams This Is Just to Say: On William Carlos Williams
A new biography shortchanges the poetic achievement of William Carlos Williams.
Oct 26, 2011 / Books & the Arts / James Longenbach
Gandhi and South Africa Gandhi and South Africa
Why was Joseph Lelyveld’s history of Gandhi’s years in South Africa attacked by India’s Hindu right?
Oct 12, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Martha C. Nussbaum
The World House: On Malcolm X The World House: On Malcolm X
A biographer's flawed attempt to rediscover the politics in the decidedly political life of Malcolm X.
Sep 21, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Aziz Rana
Gratitude and Forbearance: On Christopher Lasch Gratitude and Forbearance: On Christopher Lasch
Christopher Lasch and his quest for the moral resources of the next New Deal.
Sep 14, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Norman Birnbaum
Shelf Life: On Socrates Shelf Life: On Socrates
Bettany Hughes's biography of Socrates is a book that Socrates himself, on a mean day, would have torn to shreds.
Sep 6, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Emily Wilson