Culture

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

Now That April’s Here Now That April’s Here

Snow paid attention, left the white pines scarred and the springtime yard rife with life and destruction. Moss hair back from the dead brings the Green Man’s head softly, softly, underfoot right beside the maple root that quotes Sévigné‚ up the budding tree: “Spring is red.”

Apr 3, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Christina Robb

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

The Minutemen and the Mainstream Media The Minutemen and the Mainstream Media

A new book argues that the media failed to grasp the frightening extremism of the anti-immigrant border patrols of a few years ago—and wraps it in a thrilling true-crime tale...

Apr 3, 2013 / Blog / Rick Perlstein

The Doomsday Prepper Caucus The Doomsday Prepper Caucus

Prophecies of government tyranny, financial meltdown and violent anarchy featured on Doomsday Preppers are being absorbed into contemporary conservatism.

Apr 2, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Reed Richardson

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