Books and Ideas

The Maximalist: On Vasily Grossman

The Maximalist: On Vasily Grossman The Maximalist: On Vasily Grossman

Vasily Grossman's Everything Flows is a searching and humane investigation of the totalitarian condition.

Dec 2, 2010 / Books & the Arts / Jochen Hellbeck

Risk the Game: On William James

Risk the Game: On William James Risk the Game: On William James

For William James, all our certitudes depend on the pretense that there are no radical mysteries underlying them.

Nov 23, 2010 / Books & the Arts / Marilynne Robinson

Suitors: On Julia Holmes Suitors: On Julia Holmes

Julia Holmes's Meeks is a novel full of a jittery sadness and an uncontrollable kind of joy.

Nov 23, 2010 / Books & the Arts / Aaron Thier

The Whole Human Mess: On Saul Bellow

The Whole Human Mess: On Saul Bellow The Whole Human Mess: On Saul Bellow

Drollery, mordancy, tenderness and soul talk: Saul Bellow's letters are a Saul Bellow novel!  

Nov 23, 2010 / Books & the Arts / William Deresiewicz

The Dirty Halo: On Sarah Bernhardt

The Dirty Halo: On Sarah Bernhardt The Dirty Halo: On Sarah Bernhardt

Robert Gottlieb's vigorous biography of Sarah Bernhardt shows the actress in all her workaholic, passionate and unsentimental force.

Nov 23, 2010 / Books & the Arts / Jana Prikryl

Burning Down the House: On Ed Koch

Burning Down the House: On Ed Koch Burning Down the House: On Ed Koch

Ed Koch rebuilt New York City by demolishing its long-running experiments in urban liberalism.

Nov 23, 2010 / Books & the Arts / Samuel Zipp

The Voice of Experience The Voice of Experience

Never leave a man behind.

Nov 23, 2010 / Column / Calvin Trillin

An Optimist Greets the New Speaker of the House An Optimist Greets the New Speaker of the House

It could be worse.

Nov 18, 2010 / Column / Calvin Trillin

Between Hitler and Stalin

Between Hitler and Stalin Between Hitler and Stalin

In Bloodlands Timothy Snyder attempts to link the Holocaust to a syndrome of political killing endorsed by Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin.

Nov 17, 2010 / Books & the Arts / Samuel Moyn

Without Artifice: On William Brennan Without Artifice: On William Brennan

Justice William Brennan's watchword was human dignity, and to protect it he interpreted individual rights expansively.

Nov 17, 2010 / Books & the Arts / Michael O’Donnell

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