Books and Ideas

noam chomsky in germany

Noam Chomsky at 90: On Orwell, Taxi Drivers, and Rejecting Indoctrination Noam Chomsky at 90: On Orwell, Taxi Drivers, and Rejecting Indoctrination

As agile as ever, he pulls no punches, decrying the flaws of capitalism and abuses of governing power, sparing few politicians and no parties.

Dec 7, 2018 / John Nichols

The Refugee Cycle

The Refugee Cycle The Refugee Cycle

ignore this…

Dec 6, 2018 / Jen Sorensen

sean spicer sarah huckabee sanders

Staffing the Administration Staffing the Administration

Replacing someone forced to leave Could surely be no easier. Trump looks among the folks he knows, And picks someone who’s sleazier.

Dec 6, 2018 / Column / Calvin Trillin

In America’s Panopticon

In America’s Panopticon In America’s Panopticon

Sarah Igo’s The Known Citizen examines the linked histories of privacy and surveillance in the United States.

Dec 6, 2018 / Books & the Arts / Katie Fitzpatrick

Keith Gessen’s Portrait of a Moscow Caught Between Two Worlds

Keith Gessen’s Portrait of a Moscow Caught Between Two Worlds Keith Gessen’s Portrait of a Moscow Caught Between Two Worlds

His new novel, A Terrible Country, offers a heartbreakingly intimate glimpse into contemporary Russian life.

Dec 6, 2018 / Books & the Arts / Gregory Afinogenov

Eve Ewing’s Lesson in Grassroots Sociology

Eve Ewing’s Lesson in Grassroots Sociology Eve Ewing’s Lesson in Grassroots Sociology

The poet, academic, and Twitter star’s illuminating book on school closings in Chicago’s Southside is a model for a different kind of sociology. 

Dec 5, 2018 / StudentNation / Nawal Arjini

Jonathan Franzen’s Birdbrain Climate Pessimism

Jonathan Franzen’s Birdbrain Climate Pessimism Jonathan Franzen’s Birdbrain Climate Pessimism

In his latest collection of nonfiction, The End of the End of the Earth, Franzen puts forth a baffling, avian-centric manifesto on the climate crisis. 

Dec 3, 2018 / Alex Shephard

Outlaw King

Epic Fails: ‘Outlaw King’ and Netflix’s Nationalism Problem Epic Fails: ‘Outlaw King’ and Netflix’s Nationalism Problem

What the film industry gets wrong—and Monty Python gets right—about the nation.

Nov 29, 2018 / Kanishk Tharoor

Why A.S. Hamrah’s Anti-Capitalist Film Criticism Is Essential Reading

Why A.S. Hamrah’s Anti-Capitalist Film Criticism Is Essential Reading Why A.S. Hamrah’s Anti-Capitalist Film Criticism Is Essential Reading

The Earth Dies Streaming makes the case that Hamrah is one of his generation's most astute and sharp-tongued film critics.

Nov 29, 2018 / Max Nelson

Tom Tomorrow cartoon

There’s No Global Warming, Because It’s Cold Outside There’s No Global Warming, Because It’s Cold Outside

...and other mysteries solved by President-Detective Trump.

Nov 27, 2018 / Tom Tomorrow

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