In The Mirror and the Light, Hilary Mantel Finally Takes Cromwell to the Block
The final installment of Mantel's trilogy is the bloodiest yet—and the saddest.
Culture
Karl Marx’s Prophetic Longing
Can we salvage an egalitarian vision from the ruins of Labor Zionism?
Watching South Park at the End of the World
The soul of conservative America just might be found in a cartoon about a gang of vulgar little boys.
No One Disagrees With Rebecca Solnit
Recollections of My Nonexistence is big on relatable feminist insights but skips the difficult questions.
A Fragmented Novel for the End of the World
Jenny Offill’s Weather captures the dread of a global catastrophe.
Sunderland ’Til I Die Is TV’s Best Show About Failure
The Netflix documentary series is the next best thing to watching sports themselves.
Woody Allen’s Memoir Is Shrouded in Secrecy. Why?
An investigation into the most toxic book of a toxic season.
The Hollow Politics of Minimalism
A pristine, stripped-down aesthetic conceals the messy realities of society.
Welcome to the Zoom Party
All I wanna do is zoom-a-zoom-zoom-zoom.
The Bonkers Appeal of Tiger King
Heavy lies the crown in Netflix’s bewildering documentary series about a glamorous but unbalanced zookeeper.
The Other Latif and the Radiolab Problem
A house podcast style holds back what is otherwise an extraordinary series.
The Ethical Failures of Modern Architecture
Why do famous architects continue to work with corrupt authoritarians and pernicious corporations?
The Imitation Games That Authoritarians Play
The subtlest way to undermine democracy is to fake it.
Emily St. John Mandel’s Ghost World
The Station Eleven author returns with another haunting novel.
The Pandemic Movie of Our Time Isn’t Contagion. It’s Jaws.
The 1975 Spielberg flick captures the dread of facing an invisible enemy—and the incompetence of the politicians in charge.
Civic Republicanism: Good for the Jews
The ancient roots of communal liberty
The Brilliant Fault Lines of Little Fires Everywhere
The Hulu show is a drama of misplaced intentions, exploitation, and white fragility.
Why You Should Watch Movies About Pandemics, During Pandemics
Sometimes fiction is stranger—and more revealing—than truth.
The Education of Greta Thunberg
A new memoir reveals a family’s sacrifices and triumphs.
The Lost World of Studio 54
The Brooklyn Museum’s new show—now shuttered due to coronavirus fears—captures a time that has never felt so distant.
