An Observer of Catastrophe

In Sybille Bedford's work the great emotional and moral questions remain unanswered

In Defense of C. S. Lewis

A rebuttal of recent denunciations of the classic Chronicles of Narnia as racist, misogynist, "poisonous" works

New Life for Moore's Law

After four decades of remarkably steady progress, advances in computer-chip technology seemed in danger of slowing. Not anymore

Birding at the Edge

Attu, the outermost of the Aleutian Islands, is remote, primitive, and cold, but it is the likeliest place in North America to catch sight of a number of avian rarities

Civility vs. Civilité

No matter what the dictionary says, "politeness" and "rudeness" aren't easily translated

Peace is Hell

Every six months the Pentagon sends nearly 4,000 soldiers to Bosnia and brings nearly 4,000 soldiers home. To see how it's done is to understand why keeping peace has become harder than waging war—and why the Pax Americana has stretched the mighty American military to the limit

Hustler with a lyric voice

Edna St. Vincent Millay combined a modern sensibility with traditional forms

Out of the Ordinary

"Mundane studies" comes of age

New & Noteworthy

A sly and sublime historical novel; disappointing Didion; coming of age in Hollywood

Thanks for Nothing

A former chief economist at the World Bank offers a case study in how heavy-handed interference can break what doesn't need fixing

France's Downfall

The most comprehensive account of the most sordid period in French history

Home Away From Home

The European Parliament has no fixed seat and spends a small fortune each month trekking from Belgium and Luxembourg to France

Will The Circle Be Unbroken?

Interviews with a paramedic, a social worker, an undertaker, and a mother about their experiences with death and dying


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Miami: The Next Big Start-Up City?

How the city became a center for innovation

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A Brief History of Romantic Comedies

From The Atlantic's Chris Orr

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Life in 'the New Arctic'

A moving portrait of a fading landscape

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The Rise of New York City

A fascinating look at Manhattan in the 1940s

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What Is Methane Hydrate?

"Flaming ice" is a vast natural energy source

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NASA's Time-Lapse of the Sun

Now with epic dubstep music

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Shaken Not Tuned: Cocktail Experiments

Can a tuning fork improve a cocktail?

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Is He Cheating? A 1950s Guide

'That little blonde secretary from the office?’

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New Yorkers: Vintage Vacuum-Tube Amps

Risking electric shock to restore old amplifiers

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The DIY Piano-Bicycle

Everybody needs a hobby

Writers

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More back issues, Sept 1995 to present.

In Focus

Photos of Tornado Damage in Moore, Oklahoma