Books & the Arts
Capitalism’s Long Revolution Capitalism’s Long Revolution
What happens to our understanding of capitalism when we assume that it might not come to an end?
The Radical Genius of Álvaro Enrigue The Radical Genius of Álvaro Enrigue
His new novel is as much a work of political philosophy as it is one of fiction.
Claire Denis’s Haunting Neocolonial Drama Claire Denis’s Haunting Neocolonial Drama
Compared to her other films, The Fence is a minor work. But it contains within it a set of expansive themes.
The Art of the American Revolution Across the Generations The Art of the American Revolution Across the Generations
The United States’ founding moment from Washington Crossing the Delaware to the paintings of Jacob Lawrence, Kara Walker, and Kent Monkman.
From the Magazine
John Updike, Letter Writer John Updike, Letter Writer
A brilliant prose stylist, confident, amiable, and wonderfully lucid when talking about other people’s problems, Updike rarely confessed or confronted his own.
Harry Haywood and the Radical Politics of Black Communism Harry Haywood and the Radical Politics of Black Communism
For Haywood, a truly radical working-class politics in the United States also required a program of self-determination.
The Riotous Worlds of Thomas Pynchon The Riotous Worlds of Thomas Pynchon
From “The Crying Lot of 49” to his latest noirs, the American novelist has always proceeded along a track strangely parallel to our own.
Literary Criticism
Franz Kafka’s Best Friend Franz Kafka’s Best Friend
Kafka’s late story about a philosopher dog, like most of his stories about animals, is really about our lost humanity.
Ben Lerner’s Novel of Fathers and Sons Ben Lerner’s Novel of Fathers and Sons
His most experimental and unsettling book, Transcription asks us whether art is futile or the most important weapon we have.
The Worlds of Jamaica Kincaid The Worlds of Jamaica Kincaid
Memory pervades a new collection of nonfiction, and so do the ghosts of empire.
History & Politics
Angelo Herndon and the Radical Politics of Free Speech Angelo Herndon and the Radical Politics of Free Speech
The story of his landmark case reminds us of how powerful a popular front of socialists and liberals can be in protecting our civil liberties.
Mahmood Mamdani’s Uganda Mahmood Mamdani’s Uganda
In his new book Slow Poison, the accomplished anthropologist revisits the Idi Amin and Yoweri Museveni years.
The Catastrophe of Democratic Foreign Policy The Catastrophe of Democratic Foreign Policy
A new book on the Biden’s wars serves as a stark reminder that the Democrats need to formulate a new foreign policy—as well as reckon with the one they had.
Art & Architecture
The Art and Automatons of Kara Walker The Art and Automatons of Kara Walker
Walker’s new installation at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art offers us visions from both the past and future.
The Transformation of the New York Waterfront The Transformation of the New York Waterfront
From the Navy Yard and Industry City to the recent remaking of Bush Terminal, developers are attempting to remake Brooklyn’s coastline.
Film & Television
The Messy Campus Thriller of “After the Hunt” The Messy Campus Thriller of “After the Hunt”
Luca Guadagnino’s films have always asked viewers to turn off their brains when it comes to love and sex. In his new film, he asks the opposite.
The Grand Delusions of “Marty Supreme” The Grand Delusions of “Marty Supreme”
Josh Safdie’s first solo effort, an antic sports movie, revels in a darker side of the American dream.
The Banal Spectacle of “Avatar: Fire and Ash” The Banal Spectacle of “Avatar: Fire and Ash”
Has James Cameron’s epic sci-fi series run aground?
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The Nostalgic Architecture of the Obama Presidential Center The Nostalgic Architecture of the Obama Presidential Center
Where hope even has a gift shop.
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John Edgar Wideman’s American Vernacular John Edgar Wideman’s American Vernacular
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What Happened to the American University? What Happened to the American University?
Once the envy of the world, higher education in the United States is now in a state of endless crisis.
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The first novel by the poet asks us what fantasies get us through the day.
Aug 6, 2026 / Books & the Arts / Julia Case-Levine
How Franco Ruled Spain How Franco Ruled Spain
Two new books examine these dark decades in Spanish history.
Jul 30, 2026 / Books & the Arts / Sebastiaan Faber and Bécquer Seguín
A Rave Novel Rediscovered A Rave Novel Rediscovered
Ann Scott’s “Superstars” captures the last gasp of pre-Internet counterculture.
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