Books and Ideas

Adieu, Michele Bachmann Adieu, Michele Bachmann

Gigantic tears into our eyes now well As we prepare to say farewell, Michele. We pliers of the small-joke trade are grieving. We so regret to hear that you are leaving. Oh, sure, we often managed to make merry With gaffes by Sarah Palin or by Perry. And Cain was grand; with Trump we had a ball. But you, Michele, were wackiest of all.

Jun 5, 2013 / Column / Calvin Trillin

Rage and Ruin: On the Black Panthers

Rage and Ruin: On the Black Panthers Rage and Ruin: On the Black Panthers

A new history of the party is too close to its subject, and misses the human drama.

Jun 5, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Steve Wasserman

Dirtying White Dirtying White

Why does Benn Steil’s history of Bretton Woods distort the ideas of Harry Dexter White?

Jun 5, 2013 / Books & the Arts / James M. Boughton

White Wigs, Black Masks: On Surveillance Pop

White Wigs, Black Masks: On Surveillance Pop White Wigs, Black Masks: On Surveillance Pop

The cameras no longer look at us because we’re famous; we’re famous because they look at us to death.

Jun 5, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Joshua Clover

Another Week in the White House Another Week in the White House

The IRS has made a mess That brings the White House many stresses. They need distractions, which they’ve got— Alas, though, those are other messes.

May 22, 2013 / Column / Calvin Trillin

Shelf Life Shelf Life

Ralph Lemon’s Come Home Charley Patton

May 21, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Marina Harss

Attacks From Within: On Janet Malcolm

Attacks From Within: On Janet Malcolm Attacks From Within: On Janet Malcolm

The war between democracy and aristocracy in Janet Malcolm’s Forty-One False Starts.

May 21, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Mark Oppenheimer

This Week in ‘Nation’ History: Reviewers Have Argued About ‘Gatsby’ Since 1925 This Week in ‘Nation’ History: Reviewers Have Argued About ‘Gatsby’ Since 1925

The debate surrounding Baz Luhrmann’s film adaptation is nothing new.

May 18, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Katrina vanden Heuvel

Adler’s Way

Adler’s Way Adler’s Way

The slowly panic-making power of Renata Adler’s novels Speedboat and Pitch Dark.

May 15, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Alexandra Schwartz

Empire States: On Pankaj Mishra

Empire States: On Pankaj Mishra Empire States: On Pankaj Mishra

Why a passionate history of global alternatives to liberal capitalism becomes an exercise in nostalgia.

May 15, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Thomas Meaney

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