If You Want a Better World, Act Like You Live in It
We’ve had Henry David Thoreau the environmentalist, the libertarian, the life coach. To understand his influence, think of him first as a dissident.
Books
Introducing The Atlantic’s expanded books coverage: essays, criticism, fiction, poetry, and recommendations from our writers and editors
The Publishing Mystery That No One Wants to Talk About
A minimally speaking autistic man just wrote a best-selling book. Or did he?
The Paradox of Modern Medicine
Testing has become so advanced that doctors now miss important elements of diagnosis.
What Does Lena Dunham Want to Tell Us?
Her new memoir captures the cost of being an impossibly popular target.
The Eighth Deadly Sin
Humankind has devised a new form of debasement.
What To Read
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Six Books That Simply Must Be Talked About
These six books demand discussion—with a pal, a date, or a book club.
Nine Books to Reset Your View of the World
Each of these titles will widen your perspective, offering you original insight and vision.
Seven Books to Read When You Have No Time to Read
These titles are worth picking up, even if you have only a moment to spare.
Six Books You Can Get Lost In
These novels highlight the power—both good and bad—of unchecked fantasizing.
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The Books Briefing
Our culture editors’ weekly guide to the best in books.
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Fiction
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Scars
A short story
Fortunes
A short story
The Honor of the Layward Brothers
A short story
We Are Not One
A short story
A Naked Desperation to Be Seen
In books about the aftermath of October 7, Israelis and Palestinians seek recognition for their humanity.
Expat Elegy
A poem for Sunday
The Knausgaard Book That Deserves More Attention
The author’s exploration of the art of Edvard Munch is moving and worthwhile.
You Are Going to Die
Oliver Burkeman has become an unlikely self-help guru by reminding everyone of their mortality.
Yuval Noah Harari Wants to Reclaim Zionism
Around the anniversary of October 7, a conversation about Israel, pain, and peace with the author of Sapiens
The Enlightenment Is Just One Side of the Story
In her latest novel, Olga Tokarczuk champions a world governed by myth, not reason.
Mutation: Factor V
A poem for Wednesday
The Journalist Who Cried Treason
Craig Unger’s career was nearly destroyed when he investigated a possible election conspiracy. Three decades later, he says he’s got the goods.
Knausgaard Gave You All the Clues
In his latest novel, the extreme realist dips into fantasy—and taps into the human hunger for meaning.
Amber
A poem published in The Atlantic in 2005