Books and Ideas

Tom Tomorrow cartoon

An Honest, Good-Faith Medicare-for-All Debate An Honest, Good-Faith Medicare-for-All Debate

Just kidding!

Feb 12, 2019 / Tom Tomorrow

A Style Guide for the 1 Percent

A Style Guide for the 1 Percent A Style Guide for the 1 Percent

The new grammar and usage handbook by Benjamin Dreyer, Twitter’s premier grammarian, reinforces an elitist view of writing and language.

Feb 11, 2019 / Kyle Paoletta

Eve Babitz’s Visions of Total Freedom

Eve Babitz’s Visions of Total Freedom Eve Babitz’s Visions of Total Freedom

A new biography of the legendary Los Angeles socialite tries to crack the code of her writing’s allure.

Feb 8, 2019 / Marie Solis

Howard Schultz is the coffee man.

Howard Schultz May Run for President Howard Schultz May Run for President

The Democrats have welcomed Schultz As warmly as they might Darth Vader. It’s odd: A centrist billionaire Can look exactly like Ralph Nader.

Feb 7, 2019 / Column / Calvin Trillin

The Weight and Power of Kiese Laymon’s ‘Heavy’

The Weight and Power of Kiese Laymon’s ‘Heavy’ The Weight and Power of Kiese Laymon’s ‘Heavy’

His memoir is an affecting chronicle of both hope and despair in the American South.

Feb 7, 2019 / Books & the Arts / Bijan Stephen

How Did the Constitution Become America’s Authoritative Text?

How Did the Constitution Become America’s Authoritative Text? How Did the Constitution Become America’s Authoritative Text?

A new history of the early American republic recasts the origins of originalism and how the Constitution gained its “fixed” status.

Feb 7, 2019 / Books & the Arts / Karen J. Greenberg

The Making of Our Polluted Age

The Making of Our Polluted Age The Making of Our Polluted Age

Three new books examine how the rise of coal, oil, and gas has permanently remade our world.

Feb 6, 2019 / Books & the Arts / Bill McKibben

US-Mexico border

The Climate Wall: Q&A With Todd Miller The Climate Wall: Q&A With Todd Miller

There is an inextricable link between border militarization and climate change.

Feb 6, 2019 / Q&A / Will Meyer

Can Stoicism Make Us Happy?

Can Stoicism Make Us Happy? Can Stoicism Make Us Happy?

A recent book from the philosopher Massimo Pigliucci attempts to recast ancient Greek philosophy as self-help.

Feb 5, 2019 / Carlos Fraenkel

Tom Tomorrow cartoon

Only One Billionaire is Strong Enough to Save Us Only One Billionaire is Strong Enough to Save Us

His Powers of Risk Assessment Are Too Great to Behold.

Feb 5, 2019 / Tom Tomorrow

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