Books and Ideas

A Poet Undone

A Poet Undone A Poet Undone

Poetry defeats poems. Beguiled by this decorous paradox, Ben Lerner’s The Hatred of Poetry evades the art’s difficulty and strangeness.

Sep 22, 2016 / Books & the Arts / John Palattella

The ‘Chicago Boys’ in Chile: Economic Freedom’s Awful Toll

The ‘Chicago Boys’ in Chile: Economic Freedom’s Awful Toll The ‘Chicago Boys’ in Chile: Economic Freedom’s Awful Toll

Repression for the majorities and “economic freedom” for small privileged groups are two sides of the same coin.

Sep 21, 2016 / Feature / Orlando Letelier

Stanley Sheinbaum McGovern Fundraiser

Remembering Stanley Sheinbaum, an Early Backer of ‘The Nation’ and a Voice for Peace and Justice Remembering Stanley Sheinbaum, an Early Backer of ‘The Nation’ and a Voice for Peace and Justice

Part of the progressive so-called “Malibu Mafia,” he was a force for change among the left and a vital help to this magazine.

Sep 20, 2016 / Victor Navasky

How Journalism Can Mend Its Broken Relationship With Young People

How Journalism Can Mend Its Broken Relationship With Young People How Journalism Can Mend Its Broken Relationship With Young People

If it doesn’t, everybody loses.

Sep 20, 2016 / StudentNation / Will Anderson

A Part of Denise Riley’s Song

A Part of Denise Riley’s Song A Part of Denise Riley’s Song

The shadow of ballad meter haunts Riley’s poems, which can never not be a sign of vitality.

Sep 20, 2016 / Books & the Arts / Ange Mlinko

Snowden on Privacy

Oliver Stone’s ‘Snowden’ Is a Horror Movie—and the Monster Is Our National Security State Oliver Stone’s ‘Snowden’ Is a Horror Movie—and the Monster Is Our National Security State

For Trump to have these instruments of power would be a catastrophe.

Sep 19, 2016 / Juan Cole

A Report From the Day After Trump Wins

A Report From the Day After Trump Wins A Report From the Day After Trump Wins

Cheap flights to Mexico, a new currency, and other developments.

Sep 16, 2016 / Khalid Rahmaan

The Get Down

Diamond-Dust Baroque Diamond-Dust Baroque

The Get Down, Baz Luhrman’s fairy-tale remix of the birth of hip hop, offers a glimpse of the beginning of the end of US power.

Sep 15, 2016 / Joshua Clover

Black as We Wanna Be

Black as We Wanna Be Black as We Wanna Be

Trying to remedy racism on its own intellectual terrain is like trying to extinguish a fire by striking another match. The fiction must be unbelieved, the fire stamped out.

Sep 15, 2016 / Books & the Arts / Matthew McKnight

A Lion in Winter

A Lion in Winter A Lion in Winter

Jürgen Habermas remains an indispensable guide to the unfinished project of democratic consciousness and enlightenment.

Sep 14, 2016 / Books & the Arts / Peter E. Gordon

x