Books and Ideas

Shelf Life Shelf Life

Elizabeth Bishop's Poems and Prose; James Gleick's The Information.

Apr 27, 2011 / Books & the Arts / John Palattella

Katha Pollitt on Poetry and Politics Katha Pollitt on Poetry and Politics

Katha Pollitt joins The Brian Lehrer Show for a National Poetry Month conversation about politics and poetry.

Apr 25, 2011 / Books & the Arts / The Brian Lehrer Show

Three Poems by Jeffrey Yang Three Poems by Jeffrey Yang

"Abalone," "Eel," "Greed's Prisoner"

Apr 25, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Jeffrey Yang

Memo to a Wall Street Highflier Memo to a Wall Street Highflier

“After Widespread Reckless Banking, Dearth of Prosecutions”          —Subhead in the New York Times   It’s more than likely that you caused this wreck By schemes like selling what you knew was dreck. And ordinary folks have paid the cost: Their homes are gone, their livelihoods are lost. But friends on high have guaranteed the onus Is not on you. Relax. Pick up your bonus.

Apr 21, 2011 / Column / Calvin Trillin

The Cursi Affair: On Manuel Puig

The Cursi Affair: On Manuel Puig The Cursi Affair: On Manuel Puig

The Latin Boom writers failed to appreciate the work of fellow novelist Manuel Puig, who wrote about housewives and homosexuals.

Apr 21, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Natasha Wimmer

The Idler: On Geoff Dyer The Idler: On Geoff Dyer

Freedom to do just what he pleases defines the life and writing of Geoff Dyer.

Apr 21, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Scott Sherman

Shostakovich’s Ambivalence Shostakovich’s Ambivalence

The musical and political strands of Dmitri Shostakovich's life were intertwined like the braids of a noose.

Apr 21, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Michael O’Donnell

A Bare-Bones Analysis of Tim Pawlenty’s Candidacy A Bare-Bones Analysis of Tim Pawlenty’s Candidacy

The news from Minnesota‘s Tim Pawlenty Is Tim Pawlenty‘s in New Hampshire plenty. He hopes to win in ’12, ’16 or ’20. But that’s not likely, say the cognoscenti.

Apr 17, 2011 / Column / Calvin Trillin

Yet Another Chapter in Trickle-Down Economics Yet Another Chapter in Trickle-Down Economics

“C.E.O.’s in finance, technology, energy and beyond are pulling down multimillion-dollar paychecks. What many of these executives aren’t doing, however, is hiring.”      —the New York Times   If you await a downward trickle, You’ve just received a wooden nickel.

Apr 14, 2011 / Column / Calvin Trillin

How Socialists Built America

How Socialists Built America How Socialists Built America

The history of our nation has many rich and vibrant hues—some of them red.

Apr 13, 2011 / Books & the Arts / John Nichols

x