America’s Imaginary Frontier America’s Imaginary Frontier
America's narcissism and willful blindness to its own moral failings have been placed in sharp relief as the nation fitfully responds to the needs of storm victims.
Sep 13, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Norman Birnbaum
A Continent for the Taking A Continent for the Taking
What to make of The Constant Gardener, a movie focused on Europeans set in Africa, the return of Terry Gilliam and the New York City-set Keane?
Sep 8, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Stuart Klawans
Love and Betrayal in Colonial Africa Love and Betrayal in Colonial Africa
Abdulrazak Gurnah's seventh book, Desertion, revisits the theme of exile and expands it to relationships---between lovers, between families, between countries.
Sep 8, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Laila Lalami
Robert Kaplan: Empire Without Apologies Robert Kaplan: Empire Without Apologies
In his new book, Robert Kaplan proposes that the antidote to anarchy is empire, policed by soldiers holding an assault rifle in one hand and candy bars in the other.
Sep 8, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Andrew J. Bacevich
Desert Storm Desert Storm
This might be a good time for the Bush Administration to step up its reading on Saudi Arabia, starting with these three books.
Sep 8, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Milton Viorst
Memorial Chauvinism Memorial Chauvinism
The controversy over the World Trade Center cultural institutions is one more episode in a long, often bitter dispute over how 9/11 should be remembered and understood.
Sep 8, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Alisa Solomon
The Power of Outrage The Power of Outrage
A nation's conscience is stirred by the abandonment of the poor and the frail: This may be the one bright spot of the man-made disaster on the Gulf Coast. Eric Foner gives a histor...
Sep 6, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Eric Foner
Kanye West, Unplugged Kanye West, Unplugged
NBC took offense when Kanye West took an unscripted swipe at President Bush during a benefit concert for hurricane victims. But somebody had to say it.
Sep 6, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Adam Howard
To Return and Rise Again To Return and Rise Again
Louisiana's poet laureate writes of the resolve of New Orleans's displaced citizens to rebuild their shattered city.
Sep 4, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Brenda Marie Osbey
Tramps Like Us Tramps Like Us
Thirty summers ago, Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run exploded the cynicism and complacency of a morally exhausted era and gave a new generation reason to believe in rock and roll.
Sep 2, 2005 / Books & the Arts / Eric Alterman