Books and Ideas

Firefighter Jerome Crenshaw wipes sweat away during a break from the recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, September 1, 2005.

The Lessons of Hurricane Katrina Were Obvious From the Moment It Struck The Lessons of Hurricane Katrina Were Obvious From the Moment It Struck

The hurricane told us all we needed to know about disasters in the age of environmental devastation. Only some wanted to listen.

Aug 29, 2025 / Richard Kreitner

No, the White House Is Not Getting a 90,000-Foot Extension

No, the White House Is Not Getting a 90,000-Foot Extension No, the White House Is Not Getting a 90,000-Foot Extension

But Trump’s doomed proposal does give us a revealing glimpse into his state of mind.

Aug 28, 2025 / Kate Wagner

A man takes a photograph at Deng Xiaoping Portrait Square in Shenzhen, China, 2020.

How China Engineered the Next Century How China Engineered the Next Century

Dan Wang argues that the battle between China and the United States is simply a conflict between engineers and lawyers. The situation is much more complicated than that.

Aug 26, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Rollin Hu

A worker in a coal yard inside a coal mine in the Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh, India, 2021.

The Myth of Clean Energy The Myth of Clean Energy

Is all the hope placed in renewables an illusion?

Aug 25, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Trevor Jackson

An effigy of President Donald Trump is lowered outside the Pennsylvania State Capitol.

On the Power of Small Acts of Noncompliance On the Power of Small Acts of Noncompliance

At a moment when large-scale resistance can feel futile,
there are other ways to oppose, engage, and fight back.

Aug 18, 2025 / Column / Elie Mystal

The Bookstores Bridging Divides in Israel

The Bookstores Bridging Divides in Israel The Bookstores Bridging Divides in Israel

People of goodwill on either side of the horror find unity in the search for a good read.

Aug 15, 2025 / Feature / Eric Orner

A May Day protest against the committee’s witch hunt at City College.

Eric Foner’s Personal History Eric Foner’s Personal History

Reflecting on his decades-long career, the historian considers what his field of study owes to the public.

Aug 14, 2025 / Feature / Eric Foner

Anne Lamott and the Power of Hope

Anne Lamott and the Power of Hope Anne Lamott and the Power of Hope

‘I will not let them defeat me.’

Aug 13, 2025 / Q&A / Pamela Alma Weymouth

Catherine Lacey’s Missed Connections

Catherine Lacey’s Missed Connections Catherine Lacey’s Missed Connections

In her most personal work, The Möbius Book, Lacey uses a devastating moment of heartbreak to ruminate on the messy intersections between life and writing.

Aug 13, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Alana Pockros

Nation Poetry

Die-off Off Vancouver Die-off Off Vancouver

Aug 12, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Sally Ball

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