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
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
By Charles Ludington Monday, December 28, 2020
Experience Everything
How a letter from one great writer changed the life of another
By Simon Winchester Saturday, December 5, 2020
