Skip to content

Site Navigation

  • The Atlantic
  • PopularLatestNewsletters

    Sections

    • Ideas
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Global
    • National Security
    • Washington Week
    • Features
    • Technology
    • AI Watchdog
    • Science
    • Planet
    • Health
    • Philosophy
    • Education
    • Culture
    • Comedy
    • Family
    • Books
    • Fiction
    • Photography
    • Events
    • Explore The Atlantic Archive
    • games promo iconPlay The Atlantic Games
    • Listen to Podcasts and Articles

    The Print Edition

    View the current print edition
    Latest IssuePast Issues
    Give a Gift
  • Quick Links
    • Audio
    • Crossword Puzzle
    • Magazine Archive
    • Your Subscription
  • Popular
  • Latest
  • Newsletters
  • Sign In
  • Subscribe
May 1972 Issue
May 1972 Cover
This magazine has been fully digitized as a part of The Atlantic's archive. Each article originally printed in this magazine is available here, complete and unedited from the historical print. Read more from this magazine, or explore the full archive.
  • The Case for Dr. Kinsey
    Paul A. Robinson
  • Notes on the New Journalism
    Michael J. Arlen
  • Non Traveling
    William Zinsser
  • It Hurts to Look Back
    David Denby
  • The Peripatetic Reviewer
    Edward Weeks
  • The Closed Enterprise System
    Phoebe Lou Adams

It Hurts to Look Back

By David Denby
May 1972 Issue

About the Author

David Denby
David Denby is a staff writer at The New Yorker and the author of Eminent Jews: Bernstein, Brooks, Friedan, Mailer.

Popular Links

  • About

    • Our History
    • Careers

  • Contact

    • Help Center
    • Contact Us
    • Atlantic Brand Partners
    • Press
    • Reprints & Permissions

  • Podcasts

    • Radio Atlantic
    • The David Frum Show
    • Galaxy Brain
    • Autocracy in America
    • How to Age Up

  • Subscription

    • Purchase
    • Give a Gift
    • Manage Subscription
    • Group Subscriptions
    • Atlantic Editions
    • Newsletters

  • Follow

    • facebook
    • instagram
    • youtube
    • twitter
    • linkedin
    • flipboard

  • Our History
  • Careers

  • Help Center
  • Contact Us
  • Atlantic Brand Partners
  • Press
  • Reprints & Permissions

  • Radio Atlantic
  • The David Frum Show
  • Galaxy Brain
  • Autocracy in America
  • How to Age Up

  • Purchase
  • Give a Gift
  • Manage Subscription
  • Group Subscriptions
  • Atlantic Editions
  • Newsletters

  • facebook
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • flipboard

Site Information

  • Privacy Policy
  • Your Privacy Choicesprivacy-options
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Terms of Sale
  • Responsible Disclosure
  • Site Map

TheAtlantic.com © 2026 The Atlantic Monthly Group. All Rights Reserved.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply