The Writer in the Family
The fiction of E. L. Doctorow gave a young man hope of connecting his father and his literary hero
By Jonathan Liebson Wednesday, January 8, 2025
The Weight of a Stone
Searching for stability in an erratic world led Oliver Sacks and other writers to the realms of geology
By Megan Craig Thursday, January 2, 2025
“The Horses” by Edwin Muir
Poems read aloud, beautifully
By Amanda Holmes Tuesday, December 31, 2024
The Snow Maiden
Our final episode of 2018 is a send-off to the solstice
By Stephanie Bastek Monday, December 30, 2024
Ho Ho Horror
Why not make this Christmas a little darker?
By Stephanie Bastek Friday, December 27, 2024
Why the West Won’t Die
Naoíse Mac Sweeney on writing a different kind of “big history” book
By Stephanie Bastek Friday, June 9, 2023
Last Dance
At a World War II internment camp, George Igawa entertained thousands of incarcerated Japanese Americans—while teaching a band of novices how to swing
By Julian Saporiti Thursday, June 8, 2023
“Leap Minnows, Leap” by James Still
Poems read aloud, beautifully
By Amanda Holmes Tuesday, June 6, 2023
No-No-Novel
Resurrecting the legacy of John Okada, the first Japanese-American novelist
By Stephanie Bastek Friday, June 2, 2023
A Kingdom of Little Animals
Antoni van Leeuwenhoek’s discovery of microorganisms made possible the revolutionary advances in biology and medicine that continue to inform our Covid age
By Laura J. Snyder Thursday, June 1, 2023
Frontline Oracle
A new biography of America’s most beloved grunt reporter
By Elizabeth D. Samet Thursday, June 1, 2023
The Soldier’s Truth: Ernie Pyle and the Story of World War IIby David Chrisinger
We Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet
After Covid-19, what might be next?
By Priscilla Long Thursday, June 1, 2023
Blight: Fungi and the Coming Pandemicby Emily Monosson
False Prophets
A recent film about a Black megachurch is often hilarious, but its flaws reside in the story it doesn’t tell