The Spiritual Emptiness of Achievement
Adam Gopnik extols the virtues of mastery over ephemeral accomplishments as he learns how to make bread, box, dance, and drive.
It’s Okay to Like Good Art by Bad People
Art transcends the artist.
A Biting Satire About the Idealistic Left
Eleanor Catton’s new novel, Birnam Wood, pokes at the pieties of those who want to change the world.
The Pornography Paradox
Reformers fear that ever more outré sites are warping users’ desires. But transgression has always been part of the appeal.
Sailing to Italy
Published in The Atlantic in 1963
When the Human and the Artificial Collide
Our fears about technology reflect what we value about personhood: Your weekly guide to the best in books
‘Notice All That Disappears’
Jorie Graham is a poet facing down the end of the world.
Can Humanism Save Us?
In her new book, Sarah Bakewell champions an intellectual tradition that might be just what we need today—if only we could properly define it.
When the Royals Showed Their Human Side
During the Blitz, George VI and Elizabeth abandoned protocol in favor of solidarity—and helped Britain get through Hitler’s onslaught.
The Light in Autumn
A poem for Sunday
What California Means to Writers
Writers have long found inspiration in the Golden State: Your weekly guide to the best in books
A Tale of Maternal Ambivalence
A new novel, The Nursery, explores the mix of unexpected emotions—including rage, regret, and loneliness—that new motherhood can bring on.
Is Silicon Valley Beyond Redemption?
A new book argues that the region has been hopelessly poisoned by profit. Is there a way to reform it?
The Gun
Seven Books the Critics Were Wrong About
Despite their initial mixed reviews, each of these titles is fascinating, complicated, and worth a try.
The Vendor of New Hearts
A poem for Sunday
Learn Your Family’s History
Ordinary photos and stories can connect you with your roots: Your weekly guide to the best in books
This Novelist Is Pushing All the Buttons at the Same Time
Catherine Lacey invents the ultimate fun-house novel for her exploration of biography and art.
Why Kids Aren’t Falling in Love With Reading
Hint: It’s not just the screens.
Procrastinating Ourselves to Death
Jenny Odell’s latest book asks an urgent question: What happens when our emergencies become banal?
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