Books and Ideas

Go Back Where You Came From: A Coincidence

Go Back Where You Came From: A Coincidence Go Back Where You Came From: A Coincidence

One reason the Donald is so insecure— One reason he brags and he preens— Is swells in Manhattan told him, in effect, “Go back where you came from—that’s Queens.” They wouldn’t acc…

Jul 30, 2019 / Column / Calvin Trillin

Tom Tomorrow cartoon

Make Parallel America Great Again! Make Parallel America Great Again!

Perhaps in another dimension Robert Mueller can finally get things right.

Jul 30, 2019 / Tom Tomorrow

Chia-Chia Lin’s Haunting Immigrant Novel

Chia-Chia Lin’s Haunting Immigrant Novel Chia-Chia Lin’s Haunting Immigrant Novel

Set in a dreamlike Alaska, The Unpassing examines the hope and tragedy of a Taiwanese-American family. 

Jul 30, 2019 / Books & the Arts / Larissa Pham

Bruno Schulz’s Dream Worlds

Bruno Schulz’s Dream Worlds Bruno Schulz’s Dream Worlds

Born in turn-of-the-century Poland, Schulz lived both longer and better in his books than in real life. 

Jul 29, 2019 / Books & the Arts / Becca Rothfeld

The Dream of Open Borders Is Real—in the High Arctic

The Dream of Open Borders Is Real—in the High Arctic The Dream of Open Borders Is Real—in the High Arctic

The Norwegian territory of Svalbard has been open to citizens of the world since 1920. But don’t call it a utopia.

Jul 29, 2019 / Feature / Atossa Araxia Abrahamian

Tom Tomorrow Cartoon

The Donald Trump Decoder Ring! The Donald Trump Decoder Ring!

What did he really mean when he said “Go back to where you're from”? Now you can find out!

Jul 23, 2019 / Tom Tomorrow

A Forgotten Urdu Epic Is Essential Reading for Understanding the Indian Political Situation

A Forgotten Urdu Epic Is Essential Reading for Understanding the Indian Political Situation A Forgotten Urdu Epic Is Essential Reading for Understanding the Indian Political Situation

Qurratulain Hyder’s newly reissued novel, River of Fire, looks at 2500 years of history to reveal how the subcontinent’s nationalist myths formed and why the region fractured.

Jul 22, 2019 / Kamil Ahsan

Philip Roth’s Great American Estate Sale

Philip Roth’s Great American Estate Sale Philip Roth’s Great American Estate Sale

The bidding is sparse, but the late author’s modest effects are revealing.

Jul 19, 2019 / Elizabeth Pochoda

Colson Whitehead Opens Up

Colson Whitehead Opens Up Colson Whitehead Opens Up

In a wide-ranging conversation with The Nation, the author talks about political writing, zombies and horror stories, American history, and his new novel The Nickel Boys.

Jul 19, 2019 / Nawal Arjini

The Migrant Crisis, Through the Eyes of Human Traffickers

The Migrant Crisis, Through the Eyes of Human Traffickers The Migrant Crisis, Through the Eyes of Human Traffickers

Emiliano Monge’s novel Among the Lost leads a reader through the hellish migrant trail from the perspective of its most amoral agents.

Jul 17, 2019 / Books & the Arts / John Washington

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