Oligarchs and Graphomaniacs Oligarchs and Graphomaniacs
No one dies for poetry anymore, not even in Russia. Enter the oligarchs, who steer clear of Putin’s ire by sponsoring literary prizes.
Apr 10, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Sophie Pinkham
My So-Called ‘Post-Feminist’ Life in Arts and Letters My So-Called ‘Post-Feminist’ Life in Arts and Letters
Slut-shaming, name-calling and no respect: welcome to life in literary America for a twenty-first-century female author.
Apr 9, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Deborah Copaken Kogan
ADHD Diagnoses Rise Sharply ADHD Diagnoses Rise Sharply
So hyperactivity’s now on the rise, Though overprescribing is also suspected. Could this be a hyperactivity plague? At least we know Congress has not been affected.
Apr 3, 2013 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Kircher’s Cosmos: On Athanasius Kircher Kircher’s Cosmos: On Athanasius Kircher
How did a man who got so many things wrong become an intellectual celebrity in his own lifetime?
Apr 3, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Paula Findlen
Hunter-Blatherer: On Jared Diamond Hunter-Blatherer: On Jared Diamond
An unreliable anthropologist of traditional societies is a no less dubious diagnostician of the contemporary world.
Apr 3, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Stephen Wertheim
Republican Brawl Republican Brawl
First Palin said that Rove had spent a lot Of other people’s money, and had got For all of that a largely losing slate— Suggesting Rove’s gone past his sell-by date. So Rove, in search of subtle ways to hit her, Implied that she’d turned out to be a quitter. Then John McCain, with careful choice of words, Said Rand and Cruz behaved like “wacko birds.” O’Reilly said that Bachmann’s speech was trite. We can’t choose sides, since everyone is right.
Mar 27, 2013 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Made in the USA? Letter From London Made in the USA? Letter From London
Books about London in its Olympic year and after see Americanization eroding the city’s gift for democratic gradualism.
Mar 27, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Leo Robson
Shelf Life Shelf Life
Paul Hoover’s second edition of Postmodern American Poetry: A Norton Anthology.
Mar 27, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Ange Mlinko
One Issue That Seems to Be Getting Bipartisan Support in the Senate One Issue That Seems to Be Getting Bipartisan Support in the Senate
When Cruz begins a crude bombard, He speaks with reckless disregard. So even those who share his views Tend not to want to shmooze with Cruz.
Mar 20, 2013 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Unreal Choices: On The Feminine Mystique Unreal Choices: On The Feminine Mystique
For Betty Friedan, feminism was humanism: a question of growth, maturation and identity.
Mar 20, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Julia M. Klein