The Classics Everyone Should Read Today
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.
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Seven Books the Critics Were Wrong About
Despite their initial mixed reviews, each of these titles is fascinating, complicated, and worth a try.
Eight Books That Will Take You Somewhere New
These titles conjure their settings so vividly that you’ll feel as if you’re there.
10 Poetry Collections to Read Again and Again
Here is the verse that we just can’t get out of our heads.
Six Memoirs That Go Beyond Memories
Sometimes, a writer can use more than their own recollections to tell a personal story.
What to Read to Come to Terms With Death
These titles can help us accept our limitations and live full lives.
The Best Books to Read With Someone You Love
These five titles are made even better by exploring them alongside another person.
Six Books That Will Change How You Look at Art
These titles expand our understanding of creative work—and affirm that it is fundamental to how we process the world.
What to Read When You’re Expecting
These writers go beyond the realm of standard guidebooks to offer generous insight and reassurance.
Seven Books About How Homes Shape Our Life
Dwellings are loaded with meaning for the people—and characters—who inhabit them.
Eight Self-Help Books That Actually Help
These titles are challenging where others are pandering, and open-minded where others are prescriptive.