Fractured Odysseus
The psychiatrist Jonathan Shay’s books on Homer are the key to Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey
By Colin Dickey Thursday, August 20, 2026
Gratitude Isn’t Everything
The revolutionary Patriots owed much to their forefathers, but their fight for universal rights embraced a wider mission
By Robert A. Gross Friday, July 31, 2026
It All Comes Down to This
As the recent World Cup showed, the drama of a penalty shootout can at times be Shakespearean
By Eric Wills Thursday, July 30, 2026
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
Caught Between Worlds
Minari, Nomadland, and reflections on Asian-American identity
By Jean Kim Thursday, April 22, 2021
Blind Accidents
How John Huston’s The Asphalt Jungle brilliantly epitomizes the caper film
By David Lehman Saturday, April 17, 2021
Ramona the Pest, Cleary the Friend
Remembering the prolific children’s author
By Jayne Ross Monday, March 29, 2021
A Reluctant Spy’s Conversion
Revisiting George Seaton’s underrated 1962 film, The Counterfeit Traitor
By David Lehman Thursday, February 4, 2021
Injured Merit
How a righteous sense of grievance can lead to a better world
By Paula Marantz Cohen Thursday, January 28, 2021
Rage Against Reason
What Seneca could teach us about our inflamed passions
By John T. Scott and Robert Zaretsky Thursday, January 21, 2021
Birthright Citizens and Paper Sons
The complicated case of an American-born child of Chinese immigrants
By Amanda Frost Monday, January 18, 2021
Hamlet vs. the Nazis
A look back at Ernst Lubitsch’s 1942 movie, To Be or Not To Be
By David Lehman Monday, January 4, 2021
The War on Christmas
A brief history of the Yuletide in America
