Books (Books)

The '70s Were Awkward for Superman

The '70s Were Awkward for Superman

The comic-book franchise's attempts to get hip included turning Lois Lane black.

<i>Mad Men</i> 101: A Required Reading List for Don Draper

Mad Men 101: A Required Reading List for Don Draper

Five books the mysterious ad exec should read, with an optional Old Fashioned in hand.

'It Was to Know a Kind of Rage': V.S. Naipaul on the Cost of Learning History

'It Was to Know a Kind of Rage': V.S. Naipaul on the Cost of Learning History

Author Aatish Taseer, a chronicler of young Muslims, shares his favorite Naipaul passage.

In 300 Years, Kim Stanley Robinson's Science Fiction May Not Be Fiction

In 300 Years, Kim Stanley Robinson's Science Fiction May Not Be Fiction

The author talks about climate change, capitalism, and the other circa-2013 concerns that underpin his award-winning novels about "the solar system in the next few centuries."

1book140 April Reading Schedule: 'The ecco Anthology of International Poetry'

1book140 April Reading Schedule: 'The ecco Anthology of International Poetry'

Read along with our Twitter book club for poetry month.

Stop Talking About 'Fake News,' Says Fake-News Pioneer

Stop Talking About 'Fake News,' Says Fake-News Pioneer

Comedy vet Tony Hendra's latest venture, The Final Edition, like its competitor The Onion, parodies newsgatherers and world events to make very-real points.

Vote for Our 1book140 April Read: Poetry

Vote for Our 1book140 April Read: Poetry

Choose between one of two anthologies for our Twitter book club to read.

Philip Roth Goes to the Prom: Photos of Famous Authors as Teenagers

Philip Roth Goes to the Prom: Photos of Famous Authors as Teenagers

Even the greats of modern literature had awkward phases.

The Hidden Poetic Genius of an Old, English Nursery Rhyme

The Hidden Poetic Genius of an Old, English Nursery Rhyme

Novelist Jim Crace, whose prose has been analyzed by mathematicians for its rhythm, learned his technique from the childhood counting game 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor.'

Remembering Cordwainer Smith: Full-Time Sci-Fi Author, Part-Time Earthling

Remembering Cordwainer Smith: Full-Time Sci-Fi Author, Part-Time Earthling

The author, born 100 years ago, shocked science-fiction readers with his extreme depictions of other worlds—and his rumored belief that he sometimes lived in one.

April Is Poetry Month for 1book140

April Is Poetry Month for 1book140

Send in nominations for what our Twitter book club should read next.

Chinua Achebe's Legacy, in His Own Words

Chinua Achebe's Legacy, in His Own Words

In 2000, the Nigerian author told The Atlantic he wished to inspire voiceless peoples to share their own histories and create a global "balance of stories."

'He Had No Set Assignments': Students' Recollections of Authors as Professors

'He Had No Set Assignments': Students' Recollections of Authors as Professors

Ginsberg was sloppy, Vonnegut was giggly, and none of Frank McCourt's students ever thought he would become a famous writer.

The Boston Phoenix Set Me Free

The Boston Phoenix Set Me Free

And now it's gone.

'I Can't Help Envying You': Famous Authors' Fan Letters to Other Authors

'I Can't Help Envying You': Famous Authors' Fan Letters to Other Authors

Nine letters of admiration sent between writers, and one scathing letter of scorn

A Belated Apology to Anton Chekhov

A Belated Apology to Anton Chekhov

Author Steven Barthelme shares how he came to appreciate 'Lady With Lapdog.'

A Devil, a Guinness Brewer, and a King: In Praise of 'At Swim-Two-Birds'

A Devil, a Guinness Brewer, and a King: In Praise of 'At Swim-Two-Birds'

This St. Patrick's Day, get acquainted with Irish author Flann O'Brien's 1939 book of stories within stories within stories.

The Marilynne Robinson Paragraph That Helped Dina Nayeri Handle Loss

The Marilynne Robinson Paragraph That Helped Dina Nayeri Handle Loss

Reading a passage about the unresolved desire to fill the empty spaces in a life helped the author understand her own grief.

Anne Frank Leans Out a Window: Rare Film Footage of Famous Authors

Anne Frank Leans Out a Window: Rare Film Footage of Famous Authors

A few of these 11 writers are camera-shy; others just lived before the age of film.

Prepare for the Attack of the Christlike, Maternal, Lovey-Dovey Body Snatchers

Prepare for the Attack of the Christlike, Maternal, Lovey-Dovey Body Snatchers

Stephenie Meyer's 'The Host,' soon in theaters, does for aliens what 'Twilight' did for vampires.

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The Atlantic Monthly

The world may never run out of oil—and the consequences could be dire. Plus: avoiding the worst parts of death, Henry Kissinger's statesmanship, reconsidering hair metal, and more.

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