Were talking about capitalism this time, trying to reckon the power of big money to shapeeven rulethe human species. Capitalism is the one-word name given to a thousand-year-old force. Its not a s

Were rediscovering John Updike in the afterlife of a great writer. The Selected Letters of John Updike, just published, come to 800 pages of unguarded messages to his wives and lovers, to his mother

Shattered Dreams, Infinite Hope is Brandon Terrys long-awaited personal and philosophical case for struggle and optimism in the long civil rights movement in our country. Its a map of our minds and

What is breaking down or whats broken when the governor of Illinois says hes being invaded by the National Guard of Texas under President Trumps orders, or when the president is dueling with Oregon

Call this Mrs. Dalloways podcast. Were reading classic fiction from a century ago for light on the strangeness of the world in our day, or maybe just for relief reading a great old book. The ...

Were with the cultural historian Robin D.G. Kelly at UCLA, who has the nerve to ask: where have our thinkers gone in Trump time? Not the experts or the influencers, but the grander minds who ...

Were in the fourth summer of hot warfare between Russia and Ukraine. Its a cruel and deadly war that doesnt know how to stop. Anatol Lieven. Our guest to offer a helping hand is the ...

Were grappling with the prize historian Greg Grandins take on the making of the modern world. Theres a 600-page version in hard covers, but also a two-word version in his title, America, Amrica, c

Were retracing our steps out of the last bad-dream era in American life. Michael Ansara was in the thick of that struggle too, around war and justice. The Hard Work of Hope is his memoir ...

Were in Saratoga, New York, with the soulful American believer Marilynne Robinson, prize novelist and teacher of novelists. Shes known over the decades as the storyteller we trust to observe the tro