Books and Ideas

An Inventory of the Missing: On Frederic Tuten

An Inventory of the Missing: On Frederic Tuten An Inventory of the Missing: On Frederic Tuten

Frederic Tuten's Self Portraits is a backward glance on life that's vital, wistful and filled with sweet ache.

Dec 16, 2010 / Books & the Arts / Ben Ehrenreich

Quote of the Day: Dr. K.’s Holocaust Quote of the Day: Dr. K.’s Holocaust

The ultimate "realist" goes a bit too far.

Dec 11, 2010 / Bob Dreyfuss

Take the Back Seat: On Chinese Consumerism

Take the Back Seat: On Chinese Consumerism Take the Back Seat: On Chinese Consumerism

Can the world sustain a country the size of China with an appetite for the good things in life on par with America's?

Dec 9, 2010 / Books & the Arts / Richard McGregor

Kilito’s Way: On Abdelfattah Kilito

Kilito’s Way: On Abdelfattah Kilito Kilito’s Way: On Abdelfattah Kilito

In The Clash of Images Abdelfattah Kilito creates a touching portrait of a young man coming of age in French-occupied Morocco.

Dec 9, 2010 / Books & the Arts / Laila Lalami

Obama’s Bizarre Celebration of a Slave Republic’s ‘Compromises’ Obama’s Bizarre Celebration of a Slave Republic’s ‘Compromises’

The president said many objectionable things in selling his tax- cut plan, but his assertions about America's history of compromising was too much to stomach.

Dec 8, 2010 / Books & the Arts / Kai Wright

A Puzzler’s Puzzler: On Frank W. Lewis A Puzzler’s Puzzler: On Frank W. Lewis

Lewis was a true Renaissance man, a lover of music, history, literature, language, botany, geography, sports, boating, cards—the list is endless—all of which enliven hi...

Dec 2, 2010 / Judith Long

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

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