Book Excerpts

A photo collage based on an image of Montaigne
Illustration by Jared Bartman / The Atlantic. Sources: Alamy / Rawpixel

Some Have Yoga. I Have Montaigne.

The philosopher will always be among the writers I reread; his words provide one of the best anchors for one’s ever-changing mind.

Black, green, and red bars and photo and video stills: Biden, head bowed, at microphone; man with beard holding white flag with Arabic writing; crowd of people at airport wall; a young girl being lifted over wall next to razor wire; men in uniform carrying flag-draped coffin; line of backlit figures next to tail of airplane
Photo-illustration by Gabriela Pesqueira. Sources: Associated Press; Anadolu Agency / Getty; Captain Chris Herbert / U.S. Air Force / Redux; Drew Angerer / Getty; Victor J. Blue / Redux.

The Final Days

Joe Biden was determined to get out of Afghanistan—no matter the cost.

black-and-white photo of two boys sitting near porch, one with glasses
Courtesy of Jonathan Rosen

American Madness

Thousands of people with severe mental illness have been failed by a dysfunctional system. My friend Michael was one of them. Twenty-five years ago, he killed the person he loved most.