Books and Ideas

The Koch Brothers Have Radically Changed American Politics

The Koch Brothers Have Radically Changed American Politics The Koch Brothers Have Radically Changed American Politics

A new book exposes the hidden campaign to mainstream their libertarian agenda.

Jan 28, 2016 / Column / Eric Alterman

An anonymous painting from the 15th century of St. William of Norwich (detail).

The Origins of Blood Libel The Origins of Blood Libel

E.M. Rose reconsiders where the anti-Semitic slur came from, and how it stuck around.

Jan 28, 2016 / Books & the Arts / Madeleine Schwartz

J.M. Coetzee.

J.M. Coetzee’s Facts of Life J.M. Coetzee’s Facts of Life

For the South African author, the selves we write and read may be truer than any other.

Jan 28, 2016 / Books & the Arts / Becca Rothfeld

Reeves riot

The For-Profit Sadism of ‘Incarceration, Inc.’ The For-Profit Sadism of ‘Incarceration, Inc.’

An article in The Nation thirty years ago was an early warning about the growth of the prison-industrial complex.

Jan 28, 2016 / Richard Kreitner

From The Arab of the Future, volume 1, by Riad Sattouf.

The Future of the Arab The Future of the Arab

Riad Sattouf’s biting graphic memoir ignores the big picture of politics in the Middle East and focuses instead on daily life and the imposition of authority through violence.

Jan 27, 2016 / Books & the Arts / Ursula Lindsey

The Selden map.

Before Europe’s Intrusion Before Europe’s Intrusion

A 17th-century map reinforces what few other than historians of China have known: It was an open and diverse world with a long tradition of maritime commerce.

Jan 21, 2016 / Books & the Arts / Paula Findlen

Antonin Scalia.

What’s the Point of a Supreme Court Dissent? What’s the Point of a Supreme Court Dissent?

A recent book shows that, before Antonin Scalia, dissents were valuable to the Court. Now they may be endangering the institution.

Jan 21, 2016 / Books & the Arts / Michael O’Donnell

Salman Rushdie.

Rushdie Misses the Magic Rushdie Misses the Magic

Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights has all the markers of a Salman Rushdie novel, but it’s not a great book.

Jan 21, 2016 / Books & the Arts / Aaron Thier

Martin Luther King’s Final Year: An Interview With Tavis Smiley

Martin Luther King’s Final Year: An Interview With Tavis Smiley Martin Luther King’s Final Year: An Interview With Tavis Smiley

The author and TV host on King’s most important year.

Jan 18, 2016 / Q&A / Jon Wiener

Start Making Sense: Should Feminists Vote For Hillary Clinton?

Start Making Sense: Should Feminists Vote For Hillary Clinton? Start Making Sense: Should Feminists Vote For Hillary Clinton?

Katha Pollitt vs. Liza Featherstone on Hillary; plus Tavis Smiley on Martin Luther King’s last year.

Jan 14, 2016 / Podcast / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

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