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
The Forgotten Writers of the Shoah
What the work of women survivors can tell us about the horrors of life in the camps
By Jeanne Bonner Friday, September 15, 2023
The Humanist in the Laboratory
A personal encounter with J. Robert Oppenheimer
By Mark N. Grant Friday, August 25, 2023
The Decreationist
Simone Weil’s thoughts on the unmaking of the self
By Robert Zaretsky Thursday, August 24, 2023
“Better Asians than Blacks”
What we’re missing about the SCOTUS decision on race-conscious admissions
By Claire Jean Kim Thursday, July 20, 2023
The Musical Bard
A turn through the musical museum of folk song and family
By Thomas Fox Averill Thursday, April 20, 2023
Remembering Alison
A writer who relished the extremes in life and found humor in the darkest regions
By Ann Beattie Monday, April 10, 2023
On the Record, At Last
My father never got to tell his story at the war crimes trials at Nuremberg—it’s taken decades for the truth to come out
By George Anders Thursday, March 23, 2023
Words, Words, Words
What does the advent of ChatGPT mean for already beleaguered teachers?
