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.
Fiction
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.
What To Read
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50 Unforgettable Love Stories
Centuries of joyous, tragic, tantalizing, enduring fiction
Six Hard-to-Find Books Worth Reading
These titles are no longer fashionable, if they ever were—but should you manage to read one, you might love it.
What to Read to Wake Up Your Brain
These books can ease readers into a season of work and hard thinking.
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Six Books That Take You to Space
You won’t even have to leave your couch.
We Are All Businessmen
Ranil wanted a company scholarship for his son, and would do what he must to make the American executive feel well cared for.
Stand By Me
What Jarrat had in his life were sorrow, stubbornness, silence, and work. So when his sons needed him most, their daddy didn’t have much to offer.
The Second Coming of Gray Badger
“Dad’s real proud of you,” I said. “Said it’s too bad you’re a thief, though. You could have done something good.”
Obituary
The marina had a proposition for him. They wanted him to leave, and they were willing to pay him to do it.
Patient, Female
I don’t let them forget anything. I tell them to remember it alphabetically: breasts, cervix, ovaries, uterus. Lying on my back, I take them through it, one exam at a time.
Bible
Her abductor didn’t want money or sex. So what was he after?
“The Love Between the Two Women is Not Normal”
Are good books bad for you?
The Apparition
Milford did not want to draw too close to Lorena. At his age, he preferred to observe at a safe distance.
Missionaries
Elder Case wanted to win enough converts to make district leader. Elder Joseph was … confused.
Running Out of Music
Lucinda felt like a spy, trading dangerous information with Private Nately that could end the Cold War in one fell swoop—and she really wanted that Rolling Stones album.