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.
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.
Subject to The Atlantic's Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions
Scars
A short story
Fortunes
A short story
The Honor of the Layward Brothers
A short story
We Are Not One
A short story
JOAN
A poem
The Last Days of Franco
Montserrat Roig’s classic novel captures Barcelona on the cusp of unimaginable change.
Salman Rushdie Doesn’t Want to Be Your ‘Free Speech Barbie’
Speaking with George Packer at the New Orleans Book Festival, the author was eager to return to the subject of fiction.
How Not to Recommend a Book
Even for those who make a career out of loving books, sharing the right ones with the right people can take years of practice.
A Deft Portraitist of Class in America
Tayari Jones’s new novel, Kin, is a steely portrait of friendship and fate.
Fortunes
A short story
Six Books That Simply Must Be Talked About
These six books demand discussion—with a pal, a date, or a book club.
Americans Should Stop Using the Term Christian Nationalism
Religious beliefs have driven political change for centuries. The question today is which Christian values will prevail.
Misrule Music
A poem
Pushing the Limits of Historical Fiction
In a new book, Álvaro Enrigue uses absurdity to tell a fuller truth.