The Time is Right for a ‘Great Books’ Revival
To build a better world in the age of AI, students need grounding in indispensable ideas.
What To Read
Books
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The Toll
A poem
He Was Hugely Influential. He Also Had a Foolish Streak.
A recent biography of the writer John Berger reminds us about his hefty influence—and how he could be blinkered by his convictions.
An Adaptation That’s Both ‘Excellent’ and ‘Bizarre’
Lincoln in the Bardo is a bold novel that has rightfully inspired inventive adaptations.
Fiction
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The Guardians
A short story
Disunion
A short story
I Heard You Singing
A short story
The Wisdom of Holden Caulfield
Beneath all the alienation, The Catcher in the Rye, which turns 75 this year, has a surprisingly hopeful—and ethical—outlook.
Lying Is Its Own Form of Storytelling
In literature, nothing is as fascinating or destabilizing as deception: Your weekly guide to the best in books
The 12 Most Unforgettable Descriptions of Food in Literature
Haruki Murakami’s stir fry, Maurice Sendak’s chicken soup with rice—only the most gifted writers have made meals on the page worth remembering.
The Tricky Task of Writing a Villain
Whether in fiction or in journalism, telling stories about bad guys isn’t clear-cut: Your weekly guide to the best in books
Five Books in Which Romance Sneaks Up on You
All kinds of novels can contain love—and the pleasure of encountering a good one that does is universal.
Literature Isn’t Bound by the Rules of Time
In poetry and in prose, past and present can warp, twist, and buckle: Your weekly guide to the best in books
Nine Books to Read to Understand the War in Ukraine
These books—memoir, fiction, and nonfiction—offer a glimpse into a century of historical context in Eastern Europe.
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The Fight for Our Attention
We may live in an endlessly distracted world, but where we focus our gaze still matters: Your weekly guide to the best in books
When the Setting Is the Story
Writers take on the challenge of transporting readers to a place using only words: Your weekly guide to the best in books
Eight Books That Reevaluate American History
In these recent works, Black innovations and labor receive the prominence they deserve in popular narratives.
Can a Self-Help Book Really Change Your Life?
The genre promises easy fixes for intractable problems, but some conflicts can’t be solved by individuals alone: Your weekly guide to the best in books