The Publishing Mystery That No One Wants to Talk About
A minimally speaking autistic man just wrote a best-selling book. Or did he?
What To Read
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.
The Seinfeld Theory of Fiction
Annoying characters let us admit that we might be annoying too.
Fortunes
A short story
The Honor of the Layward Brothers
A short story
We Are Not One
A short story
Seven Great Graphic Novels That Go Beyond Words
These titles demonstrate how text and image can blend together to convey one voice.
Six Books About Winter as It Once Was
These titles remind us of the season’s long-established joys and its necessary quiet, even as the climate changes.
The Books That Helped Me Adjust to a Big City
When I moved to D.C., I turned to reading to help me understand the history, and the spirit, of my new home.
Eight Novels That Truly Capture City Life
Only some of these titles tell happy stories, but they are all reminders of what is possible in metropolises.
The Human Face of American Decline
Alex Kotlowitz recommends books that manage to operate at a human scale while arriving at bigger truths.
Eight Books to Take With You on a Road Trip
In these titles, the open highway sparks a reaction between a character and the unknown.
What to Read to Understand Russia
Anastasia Edel, a Russian-born American social historian, recommends books about the country as the war in Ukraine continues.
Seven Books That Earn Your Tears
Getting a cheap rise out of readers is easy. Faithfully representing life on the page takes more skill.
What to Read If You Want to Reinvent Yourself
Whether you’re starting over or discovering a new identity, these works can help reset your perspective.
Six Books to Read During a Stressful Family Holiday
Reading about other people’s kin, fictional or not, may help you feel better about yours.