Porn, Poetry, and Picasso: Wayne Koestenbaum’s Irresistible World View
A new collection of "cerebral, smutty essays" called "Figure It Out" offers magical musings on everything from porn to Picasso. Read more ›
LGBTQ Communities & the Criminal Justice System
A new book explores the relationship between LGBTQI+ communities and the criminal justice system — particularly the violence inflicted on the marginalized communities. Read more ›
Cantatas to Led Zeppelin: Exploring Time and History Through Music
A new collection of essays explores the meaning of time and history through music, with contributors writing about everything from cantatas composed in Chile between 1941 and 1969, to the iconic rock albums by Jethro Tull, The Who, and Led Zeppelin conceived in 1971. Read more ›
Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina Had a Secret Talent — Writing
In "The Book of Anna," novelist Carmen Boullosa imagines how Anna Karenina's life would have been different if she fulfilled her literary dreams. Read more ›
Before COVID-19, Another Pandemic Upended the Art World: The 1918 Flu
An art history professor draws parallels between the art world during the 1918 flu pandemic and the state of the art world today, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more ›
The Startling History of America’s Favorite Drug — Coffee
A new book uncovers the shocking, centuries-long history of coffee, from its use by Sufi monks to its status as the world's most beloved drink. Read more ›
China Is Trying to Improve Its Global Image — and Using Hollywood to Do It
A new book examines China’s efforts to improve its global image through film, branding, news media, and promotion of Chinese language and culture — and how U.S. Hollywood execs are tapping into the Chinese film market. Read more ›
Ralph Waldo Emerson Had a Secret Support System: His Daughter
Ralph Waldo Emerson had a hard-working helpmate whose story is not well-known: His daughter Ellen Tucker Emerson. Read more ›
Abraham Lincoln’s Harrowing 13-Day Mission to Secure the Presidency
Before being sworn in as president, Abraham Lincoln completed a harrowing yet triumphant 13-day train trip from Illinois, to Washington, D.C. Read more ›