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
Pause Fillers
Um, like, y’know, sort of, if you catch my drift
By Ralph Keyes Thursday, July 6, 2017
Why 100,000,000 Americans Read Comics
The creator of Wonder Woman makes the case for superheroes—especially female ones
By William Moulton Marston Thursday, June 8, 2017
Orator-in-Chief
President Obama’s public remarks revealed his unshakable faith in the unity of the American people
By James Santel Friday, April 28, 2017
We Are the Change We Seek: The Speeches of Barack Obamaedited by E.J. Dionne Jr. and Joy-Ann Reid
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
