Break Their Hearts: On Chris Bachelder Break Their Hearts: On Chris Bachelder
In his novel Abbott Awaits, Chris Bachelder employs his comic wackiness to great effect.
Sep 6, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Aaron Thier
So What’s With the Cowboy Boots, Rick? So What’s With the Cowboy Boots, Rick?
You say you’re the real thing from Texas— An Aggie, not someone from Yale. While claiming to be a straight shooter, You plant a boot high on a bale. ’Twas cotton that grew on your farm, Rick. You didn’t grow up on the range. No horses are used to plant cotton, So cowboy boots seem mighty strange. No phony? Then alter your costume. Although they lack cowboy boots’ zing, If you have a sod-buster background, Bib overalls might be the thing.
Aug 31, 2011 / Column / Calvin Trillin
The New American Jujitsu The New American Jujitsu
In the wake of 9/11, we have summoned up imaginary demons to spare ourselves from facing the all-too-real burdens of our time.
Aug 31, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Jonathan Schell
Epitaph for Another September 11 Epitaph for Another September 11
Chile and the United States offer contrasting models of how to react to a collective trauma.
Aug 30, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Ariel Dorfman
Teaching Peace Teaching Peace
If peacemaking is teachable, why are school so reluctant to offer classes in peace studies?
Aug 30, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Colman McCarthy
Double Vantage: On Jorge Castañeda Double Vantage: On Jorge Castañeda
In Mañana Forever? Jorge Castañeda chronicles the growth of the middle class to argue that Mexico is not a failed state.
Aug 30, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Natasha Wimmer
Moral Portents: On Adam Goodheart Moral Portents: On Adam Goodheart
Capes, torches, secret meetings! Adam Goodheart’s 1861 tells the story of the unyielding idealism awakened by the Civil War.
Aug 30, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Brenda Wineapple
Trains in Vain: On Richard White Trains in Vain: On Richard White
The building of the transcontinental railroads is not the story of a managerial revolution, argues Richard White, but of incompetence and corruption rewarded.
Aug 30, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Robin Einhorn
In Our Orbit : On Stephen F. Cohen In Our Orbit : On Stephen F. Cohen
Stephen F. Cohen’s The Victims Return contemplates the return to Soviet society of several million zeks after Stalin’s death.
Aug 30, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Rachel Polonsky
Melissa Harris-Perry: Dick Cheney’s Book Is Revisionist Melissa Harris-Perry: Dick Cheney’s Book Is Revisionist
Cheney has a somewhat deluded sense of recent history.
Aug 30, 2011 / Books & the Arts / MSNBC