By the Content of Its Characters
On rereading “War and Peace” in the age of radical sensitivity
By Melvin Jules Bukiet Friday, February 3, 2017
Superlatalk
The history of the most awesome language ever
By Ralph Keyes Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Injurious Entanglements
Remembering William Trevor’s Anglo-Irish Stories
By George O’Brien Friday, November 25, 2016
Low Definition in Higher Education
When college students are told what to think and what not to say, who suffers in the end?
By Lyell Asher Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Garden State Sorcerer
In his new memoir, Springsteen reveals his inner life but is strangely silent on his music
By Louis P. Masur Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Pawns for Fascism
This piece from 1937 envisions the forces that make a demagogue like Trump possible
By Reinhold Niebuhr Friday, October 14, 2016
The Hidden Music of Words
Academics shouldn’t scoff at literary prose—they have much to learn from it
By Aaron Sachs Tuesday, October 11, 2016
The Aspirational Golf of Arnold Palmer
Ode to the man who brought out the goodness in the game
By Stephen Goodwin Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Late Night Thoughts on Nuclear Weapons
The game of nuclear deterrence contains a fatal trap
By Jerry Delaney Monday, October 3, 2016
What He Stood For
How Angus Cameron, one of the most significant editors in the history of American publishing, responded to being targeted by the McCarthy blacklist
By Jonathan Coleman Friday, April 24, 2026
Who Is Blake Whiting?
The most astonishingly productive historian in recent times is someone you’ll never meet
By Andrew Lawler Thursday, April 16, 2026
The Importance of Being Idle
What Paul Lafargue taught us about work
By Robert Zaretsky Monday, March 30, 2026
Gilded Guilt
On Taylor Swift, Julian Fellowes, and the class conflicts that never die
By Jessa Crispin Friday, February 13, 2026
The Popper Principle
Did Plato really espouse ideas that led eventually to totalitarianism?
By Robert Zaretsky Thursday, January 29, 2026
It’s a Wonderful (Falling Apart) Life
In the disrepair of our everyday world are suggestions of life’s burdens and consolations
By Ben Slote Friday, December 19, 2025
The Conspiracist Cotton Mather
The zealot who oversaw the Salem Witch Trials initially voiced restraint—what changed?
By Colin Dickey Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Baby Shoggoth Is Listening
Why are some writers tailoring their work for AI, and what does this mean for the future of writing and reading?
By Dan Kagan-Kans Wednesday, October 29, 2025
What Is an American Hero, Anyway?
Lists of great artists say more about the list-maker than the artist
By Jessa Crispin Friday, October 24, 2025
