Books and Ideas

Fighting the Abyss Fighting the Abyss

Although The Aesthetics of Resistance delves into leftist notions of art and class struggle, this account of an anti-Nazi youth group in Germany seems outdated now.

Sep 29, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Noah Isenberg

A Devil’s Dictionary of Business A Devil’s Dictionary of Business

Had your fill of spin and flimflam about the greatness of corporate America? Here's the real truth about money, high finance and low, commerce, clever tricks, globalism and globalo...

Sep 27, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Nicholas von Hoffman

The Blank Verses The Blank Verses

A Rick Moody novel is generally about one thing and that is Rick Moody's ability to write very long, occasionally graceful sentences.

Sep 22, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Christine Smallwood

In Search of Sam Cooke In Search of Sam Cooke

A womanizing gospel king and black-pride pop star, Sam Cooke led a short life filled with contradiction.

Sep 22, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Robert Christgau

The Red Cross: A Question of Competence The Red Cross: A Question of Competence

The Gulf Coast hurricanes have raised new questions about the integrity and competence of the American Red Cross to respond to national emergencies. In this report from The Nation...

Sep 21, 2005 / Feature / Linda Heller

Readers Respond to Sharon Olds Readers Respond to Sharon Olds

Readers respond to poet Sharon Olds's decision to decline Laura Bush's invitation to dine at the White House.

Sep 21, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Our Readers

New World Symphony New World Symphony

Joseph Horowitz diligently lays out the immense problems that face American classical music today, and his warnings cannot go unheeded.

Sep 15, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Russell Platt

Barbara Ehrenreich’s White Collar Blues Barbara Ehrenreich’s White Collar Blues

Barbara Ehrenreich probes a deeper level of white-collar angst: people who lose or quit their corporate jobs and routinely spend months, even years, finding another.

Sep 15, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Michael Kazin

Rushdie’s Receding Talent Rushdie’s Receding Talent

It has almost become a sadness to review a novel by Salman Rushdie. Shalimar the Clown is no exception.

Sep 15, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Lee Siegel

Zadie Smith’s Indecision Zadie Smith’s Indecision

It can't be easy to rein in a writer as successful as Zadie Smith. Her new novel, On Beauty, proves it's almost impossible.

Sep 15, 2005 / Books & the Arts / William Deresiewicz

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