Books and Ideas

Mural

‘We Are Civilization’s Anchor. We Are the Compass for Humanity and Conscience.’ ‘We Are Civilization’s Anchor. We Are the Compass for Humanity and Conscience.’

In the midst of death, thinking about life, art, the water’s edge, and Paul Robeson.

Sep 16, 2020 / Aja Beech

The Inner Lives of the Accused in Emma Cline’s ‘Daddy’

The Inner Lives of the Accused in Emma Cline’s ‘Daddy’ The Inner Lives of the Accused in Emma Cline’s ‘Daddy’

Her new story collection is of apiece with the writer’s interest in the minds of the guilty, the complicit, and the canceled.

Sep 15, 2020 / Lizzy Harding

Ayad Akhtar, Shahzia Sikander

The Incantatory Power of Ayad Akhtar and Shahzia Sikander The Incantatory Power of Ayad Akhtar and Shahzia Sikander

The two artistic geniuses—a novelist and a visual artist—discuss US politics, Islamophobia, and their recent work.

Sep 15, 2020 / Q&A / Ayad Akhtar and Shahzia Sikander

Tom Tomorrow cartoon

Trump Supporters Need a Reality Check Trump Supporters Need a Reality Check

Climate change, racism, and mail-in voting are all conspiracies, I guess?

Sep 15, 2020 / Tom Tomorrow

brewster

Publishers Are Taking the Internet to Court Publishers Are Taking the Internet to Court

In a lawsuit against the Internet Archive, the largest corporations in publishing want to change what it means to own a book.

Sep 10, 2020 / Maria Bustillos

Why Your Boss Wants You to Love Your Job

Why Your Boss Wants You to Love Your Job Why Your Boss Wants You to Love Your Job

Sociologist Jamie K. McCallum argues in a new book that the idea of “meaningful work” has only persuaded us to work more and more.

Sep 9, 2020 / Robin Kaiser-Schatzlein

Tom Tomorrow cartoon

Someone Give Us the Gift of Time Travel Someone Give Us the Gift of Time Travel

And we thought 2014 was bad. 

Sep 8, 2020 / Tom Tomorrow

Comix Nation

Comix Nation Comix Nation

N…

Sep 8, 2020 / Peter Kuper

Donald Trump

George Washington and the Cherry Tree—Updated George Washington and the Cherry Tree—Updated

Young George could not deny he felled that tree. His moral code would certainly forbid it. In such a situation, Trump would say, “I cannot tell a lie: Obama did it.”…

Sep 8, 2020 / Column / Calvin Trillin

Can the American University Be Saved?

Can the American University Be Saved? Can the American University Be Saved?

Covid-19 has revealed the glaring inequalities of higher ed in the United States and may push the system to the point of crisis.

Sep 8, 2020 / Books & the Arts / Daniel Bessner

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