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.
What To Read
Books
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An Adaptation That’s Both ‘Excellent’ and ‘Bizarre’
Lincoln in the Bardo is a bold novel that has rightfully inspired inventive adaptations.
Forget Grit
Even the luminaries of the self-help genre have begun to recognize how little in life we can actually control.
The Rise of the Sexy-Cozy Autumn Read
It’s spooky season. Time to read … romance?
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.
Seven Bedside-Table Books for When You Can’t Sleep
These titles can offer another voice in the darkness, ready to soothe a restless mind.
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Eight Books That Will Change Your Perspective
One of the joys of reading is encountering someone else’s awakening on the page.
Five Books for People Who Really Love Books
These five titles focus on the many connections we can form with what we read.
What to Read to Understand How People Get Tricked
Each of these titles will stick with you and, perhaps, make you more likely to realize when you’re not seeing the truth.
Eight Books to Read If You’re in a Creative Slump
These books dispense practical advice on managing one’s ambitions—or describe the dread of writer’s block with precision and humor.
What to Read When You Have Only Half an Hour
A short story has velocity and verve, and the best ones create an immediate, instinctual bond between the reader and the characters.
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Nine Books About Aging, Growing, and Changing
Moments of great physical upheaval can be accompanied by great revelations.
25 Books to Get Lost in This Summer
The Atlantic’s writers and editors have chosen fiction and nonfiction to match all sorts of moods.
The ‘Lurid Metaphors’ of Illness
Meghan O’Rourke recommends her favorite books about sickness and health.
Six Books That Explore What’s Out There
These titles reflect on what drives our species to seek out the uncharted and unknown.