Category Archives: New Books

Ray Kurzweil wants to reverse-engineer the human brain. It’s a fetching idea to some; malevolently far-fetched to others… more»

Anti-Judaism, which has always been at the center of Western civilization, flourishes even without Jews, since its target is not people but an idea… more»

Oliver Stone says his view of American history echoes “the dominant narrative” among academic scholars. Sean Wilentz has some doubts… more»

Doer and dreamer, realist and romantic: Charles de Gaulle was an exceptional – and exceptionally arrogant – character…more»

Hallucinations can be brilliant, bothersome, even frightening. Imagine hearing Bing Crosby sing “White Christmas” for days on end… more»

Gabriele d’Annunzio had discolored teeth, little hair, one eye, and a libido that thousands of lovers couldn’t satiate…more»

Her dresses – strange colors, wondrous sleeves – were a sensation, but her husband, Oscar, wrested the limelight. The life of Constance Wilde… more»

Benjamin Britten, workaholic. Not even a need for heart surgery could pull him away from his desk. “My destiny is to be in a harness and to die in a harness”…more»

Literary criticism has become a way to pursue tenure, complains Joseph Epstein. “Literary culture itself seems to be slowly if decisively shutting down”… more»

One was an upstart clad in pink and purple, the other an acknowledged genius. Florence wasn’t big enough for both Michelangelo and Leonardo… more»