Chimamanda Adichie’s Fiction Has Shed Its Optimism
The Nigerian American author’s first novel in 12 years depicts troubled relations between men and women—but no tidy resolutions.
Why the Trump Administration Canceled Me
I was supposed to give a book talk about civil rights at the Jimmy Carter Library. I think I know why the invitation was rescinded.
Amphigory
A poem
A Delightfully Frenetic Cult Classic
Chloe Caldwell’s Women revolves around a life-altering yet toxic affair.
The Island Nation Whose History Reflects America’s
Rich Benjamin’s new book reveals a shared spirit between the world’s first Black republic and the United States.
How Ross Douthat’s Proselytizing Falls Short
The columnist’s new book, Believe, argues for religion from a rational perspective. It won’t make a believer out of me.
The Dangers of Philo-Semitism
In a new book, Pankaj Mishra twists Holocaust remembrance into a source of all the world’s evil. He couldn’t be more wrong.
Six Older Books That Deserve to Be Popular Today
In recent years, these titles have found themselves justifiably rescued from oblivion.
Santa Filomena
A poem published in The Atlantic in 1857
Thinking About Divorce in a New Way
Haley Mlotek’s new memoir finds a fresh way to talk about the dissolution of a marriage.
A Novel That Boldly Rethinks the Border
Fernando A. Flores’s fantasia depicts the U.S.-Mexico border of the near future as a site of both exploitation and near-limitless possibilities.
A Divorce Memoir With No Lessons
Haley Mlotek’s new book provides neither catharsis nor remedies for heartache, but rather a tender exploration of human intimacy.
When Robert Frost Was Bad
Before he became America’s most famous poet, he wrote some real howlers.
Domestic
A poem
The Fantasy of a More Neighborly Past
Sun City offers evidence that Americans’ widespread isolation began long before they became absorbed in their phones.
Seven Books That Capture How Love Really Feels
These books are all exquisite arguments for the necessity of stories about romance.
A Revelatory Way of Understanding the Black Experience
Imani Perry’s latest book examines the intersections between the color blue and the history of her people.
America in 2025
A poem
The Paradox of Music Discovery, the Spotify Way
A new book explores the company’s commitment to shaping what its users hear.
Blame Gerald Ford for Trump’s Unaccountability
In a new book, Jeffrey Toobin makes a convincing case that Ford’s pardon of President Nixon set the stage for unchecked presidential power.
The Outsider Who Captured American Loneliness
The Finnish writer Tove Jansson returned from a U.S. trip with a new perspective on home—and an enduring novel.