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.
The Dark Side of Tourism
Vacations usually rest on a fantasy—but there’s a cost to maintaining the illusion: Your weekly guide to the best in books
Nine Books Every Sports Lover Should Read
The best of this writing combines the drama of waiting to see who will win with the emotional pleasure of reading about a great character.
What a Warming Planet Means for Literature
Worrying about climate change is now just part of life on Earth: Your weekly guide to the best in books
Six Books to Guide You Through the Real American West
These novels remind readers that the story of the region is as vast as its landscape.
The Ways We Make a Living
Work isn’t everything, but for better or for worse, our lives orbit around it: Your weekly guide to the best in books
Seven Books Grappling With What Writers Leave Behind
When an author dies, their legacy can be left entirely in the hands of their estate.
There’s Nothing Like a Great Takedown
A negative review can be a beautiful thing: Your weekly guide to the best in books
Eight Books in Which Ignorance Is the Point
People are always searching for answers, but not knowing can be its own reward.
Literature for a Post-Roe World
Fiction and poetry can help us grapple with our fears for the future—and remind us what we stand to lose in the present: Your weekly guide to the best in books
History Is Never Only One Person’s Story
A good group biography details with curiosity the ways, trivial and tremendous, that humans influence one another.