Books and Ideas

Coming to America! Coming to America!

Reviews of films from the vulgar to the magisterial: Borat, Flags of Our Fathers, For Your Consideration, Our Daily Bread and Fur.

Nov 16, 2006 / Books & the Arts / Stuart Klawans

Half a Life Half a Life

In The Lay of the Land, the final work in Richard Ford's acclaimed trilogy, Frank Bascombe picks up where he left off in Independence Day--taking road trips, describing houses and ...

Nov 16, 2006 / Books & the Arts / Benjamin Hedin

Representative Fictions Representative Fictions

An ambitious two-volume history of the novel explores its evolution across continents and centuries.

Nov 16, 2006 / Books & the Arts / William Deresiewicz

Trying to Be at Least Civil in Bidding Don Rumsfeld Farewell Trying to Be at Least Civil in Bidding Don Rumsfeld Farewell

Pentagon briefings won't be the same.

Nov 16, 2006 / Column / Calvin Trillin

Politicians Sweep Midterm Elections Politicians Sweep Midterm Elections

Resounding victories in all states, counties, cities, towns.

Nov 14, 2006 / The Nation

The Last Antiwar Poem The Last Antiwar Poem

Allen Ginsberg's "Wichita Vortex Sutra," written at the height of the Vietnam War, speaks with a jarring relevance today.

Nov 14, 2006 / Books & the Arts / Rolf Potts

The Evil Abstraction The Evil Abstraction

Before Bob Gates's confirmation as CIA chief in 1991, the man now designated as Bush's Secretary of Defense was charged with forcing intelligence reports to conform to a tough anti...

Nov 9, 2006 / Column / David Corn

A Civilizing Mission A Civilizing Mission

The Selected Writings of Eqbal Ahmad collects the work of one of our finest postcolonialist critics.

Nov 9, 2006 / Books & the Arts / Amitava Kumar

The Business of America The Business of America

The American Way of Strategy and Empire's Workshop examine the paradox of idealism and brutality in US foreign policy.

Nov 9, 2006 / Books & the Arts / George Scialabba

A Silver Lining for House Republicans A Silver Lining for House Republicans

At least one person in the GOP might feel relieved.

Nov 9, 2006 / Column / Calvin Trillin

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