Books & the Arts

Gratitude and Forbearance: On Christopher Lasch

Gratitude and Forbearance: On Christopher Lasch Gratitude and Forbearance: On Christopher Lasch

Christopher Lasch and his quest for the moral resources of the next New Deal.  

Sep 14, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Norman Birnbaum

Soft Sells: On Liberal Internationalism Soft Sells: On Liberal Internationalism

Why does John Ikenberry think the sorrows of liberal internationalism are temporary?

Sep 14, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Samuel Moyn

Treatment Treatment

The relationship between a handsome young broker and a lovely young curator is in trouble. Before they can marry, he must come to tolerate, then feel guarded affection for a good natured buffoon who populates dioramas with stuffed mouse couples in period dress, then for an assortment of others, some less likeable, who also take passionate interest in an activity that generates no profit

Sep 14, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Rae Armantrout

Agents of Destruction

Agents of Destruction Agents of Destruction

Steven Soderbergh’s Contagion, Göran Hugo Olsson’s Black Power Mixtape 1967–1975, Tate Taylor’s The Help

Sep 14, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Stuart Klawans

Visions and Revisions: On T.S. Eliot

Visions and Revisions: On T.S. Eliot Visions and Revisions: On T.S. Eliot

Two volumes of T.S. Eliot's letters elucidate how the momentous achievements of his art were determined by moments of awful daring.

Sep 6, 2011 / Books & the Arts / James Longenbach

Uncertainty and Anxiety: On Khrushchev’s Thaw

Uncertainty and Anxiety: On Khrushchev’s Thaw Uncertainty and Anxiety: On Khrushchev’s Thaw

Why did different segments of the Soviet population experience Khrushchev’s reforms in radically different ways?  

Sep 6, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Benjamin Nathans

Shelf Life: On Socrates Shelf Life: On Socrates

Bettany Hughes's biography of Socrates is a book that Socrates himself, on a mean day, would have torn to shreds.

Sep 6, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Emily Wilson

Break Their Hearts: On Chris Bachelder

Break Their Hearts: On Chris Bachelder Break Their Hearts: On Chris Bachelder

In his novel Abbott Awaits, Chris Bachelder employs his comic wackiness to great effect.

Sep 6, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Aaron Thier

The New American Jujitsu

The New American Jujitsu The New American Jujitsu

In the wake of 9/11, we have summoned up imaginary demons to spare ourselves from facing the all-too-real burdens of our time.

Aug 31, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Jonathan Schell

Epitaph for Another September 11

Epitaph for Another September 11 Epitaph for Another September 11

Chile and the United States offer contrasting models of how to react to a collective trauma.

Aug 30, 2011 / Books & the Arts / Ariel Dorfman

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