Books and Ideas

The Sip Heard Round the World The Sip Heard Round the World

He sought to trash the Democrats. He’d rough them up for sure, but first he Just had to have a bit to drink. Poor Rubio was dry and thirsty.   Though pundits say his future’s bright, Whatever life to him may bring, His sobriquet will always be The senator from Poland Spring.

Feb 20, 2013 / Column / Calvin Trillin

At War With Art

At War With Art At War With Art

The Smithsonian’s show on the Civil War and American Art expresses a deep unease about the relationship between between art and history.

Feb 19, 2013 / Books & the Arts / James W. Loewen

A Deliberate Pace: On Rachel Carson A Deliberate Pace: On Rachel Carson

On a Farther Shore captures the conservationist’s deep sense of geologic time and the forces of evolution.

Feb 19, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Vivian Gornick

Hacker Unearths Paintings by George W. Bush Hacker Unearths Paintings by George W. Bush

To new artist George Bush (the junior), We welcome you. Greetings. Salaam. We’re eager to see your depiction Of nukes stashed away by Saddam. 

Feb 13, 2013 / Column / Calvin Trillin

You Are What You Click: On Microtargeting

You Are What You Click: On Microtargeting You Are What You Click: On Microtargeting

Why privacy and anonymity are being violated online by an unstoppable process of data profiling.

Feb 13, 2013 / Books & the Arts / David Auerbach

In Our Orbit: My Lai Rules In Our Orbit: My Lai Rules

Nick Turse’s Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam.

Feb 13, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Richard Kreitner

Stalker

Stalker Stalker

For the novelist James Lasdun, being stalked online is like “swallowing a cup of poison every morning.”

Feb 13, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Caleb Crain

The Task Ahead The Task Ahead

“The biggest donors in the Republican Party are financing a new group to recruit seasoned candidates and protect Senate incumbents from challenges by far-right conservatives and Tea Party enthusiasts.”       —The New York Times   They mean to weed the wackos out, To stanch electoral bleeding. From what we’ve seen, it’s going to take Some mighty powerful weeding.

Feb 6, 2013 / Column / Calvin Trillin

Making Strange: On Victor Shklovsky

Making Strange: On Victor Shklovsky Making Strange: On Victor Shklovsky

A Russian novelist’s fight, in life and art, to see the world afresh in all its cruelty and splendor.

Feb 5, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Ben Ehrenreich

Noted Noted

Judith Long on Jane Sharples, Allison Kilkenny on the fight for Philly’s schools

Jan 30, 2013 / Editorial / Various Contributors

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