Walter Lippmann’s Phantom Publics Walter Lippmann’s Phantom Publics
Arguably no American journalist wielded as much influence as Walter Lippmann did in the 20th century. But what did he do with that power?
Oct 15, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Gerald Howard
How the Capitalism of the 1980s Created Donald Trump’s Theory of the State How the Capitalism of the 1980s Created Donald Trump’s Theory of the State
The proliferation of privately held companies during the Reagan years laid the foundations for Trump’s approach to government.
Oct 14, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Kim Phillips-Fein
What We Talk About When We Talk About Cancer What We Talk About When We Talk About Cancer
Oct 14, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Jane Zwart
The Triumphs and Travails of American Marxism The Triumphs and Travails of American Marxism
Karl Marx never visited the United States, but he and his ideas left an imprint nonetheless.
Oct 13, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Robin Blackburn
The Blood Diamonds of Brazil The Blood Diamonds of Brazil
When an Amazonian tribe tried to regulate the mines on their territory, they invited the violence of modern life into their homeland.
Oct 8, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Jimin Kang
Thomas Mallon’s Theory of the Diary Thomas Mallon’s Theory of the Diary
The New York writer and editor’s diaries of the AIDS era presents a curious case of what we are supposed to expect from private documents that become historical sources.
Oct 7, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Sheila McClear
“To Free Someone Else”: Toni Morrison the Book Editor “To Free Someone Else”: Toni Morrison the Book Editor
A recent book on her career in publishing makes the case that the great American novelist should also be seen as a pathbreaking editor.
Oct 6, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Marina Magloire
Tezer Özlü—the Rebel of Turkish Letters Tezer Özlü—the Rebel of Turkish Letters
Journey to the Edge of Life, a striking composite of memoir, biography, and criticism, dwells on the connection between art and death.
Sep 30, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Kaya Genç
How Should We Remember the Art of Ben Shahn? How Should We Remember the Art of Ben Shahn?
Caught between his political and aesthetic commitments, the painter, photographer, and illustrator has suffered the fate of misapprehension.
Sep 29, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Pujan Karambeigi
The Shortest Presidential Campaign The Shortest Presidential Campaign
Kamala Harris’s 107 Days offers a devastating indictment of Joe Biden. It also documents the limits of her own politics.
Sep 26, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Jeet Heer