Literature

Here are inspiring books on America's beginnings.

‘A World in Disarray: American Foreign Policy and the Crisis of the Old Order‘ By Richard HaassPenguin Press352 pages; hardcover $28.00 This book has a lot of merit, and more. Let me start with the merit part: Though I do not subscribe to all of his offered solutions, author Richard Haass chisels a new template for a […]

Fairies, the magical creatures that shimmer in the forest, were for many years believed to be hidden in the woodland landscapes of Monhegan Island, Maine. The locals there made small houses especially for them. During a visit to the island, author and illustrator Tracy Kane was so inspired by the small structures—created out of natural materials and built in woods, beaches, […]

The act of creation—making something from nothing—is remarkable. Survey after survey reveals what a valued trait creativity is to us today, and scholars strive to get at why. The prolific artist Wim Wenders is known not only for his strong vision but his interest in other artists. The writer, photographer, painter, and filmmaker has documented […]

PRINCETON, N.J.—If you care about beauty in art, music, and architecture; if you are looking for consolation in the world; if you want to learn about human nature, sexuality, and desire; if you want to understand why tradition matters; or if you simply want to know how to better nurture friendships, perhaps you would enjoy […]

There is still serious debate over the existence of man-made climate change and the negative effects of genetically modified crops. But no one can reasonably deny that the air is worse in cities than in the countryside; the reason for the high incidence of asthma in urban areas is not a mystery. The decline in […]

‘Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations’  By Thomas L. FriedmanFarrar, Straus, and Giroux528 pages; hardcover $28 There are times when a certain type of book lands on your desk and triggers reflection. Perhaps the topic at hand is so monumental that it requires a book-length commentary to […]

In answer to what she describes as “a movement of women creating businesses … doing what they love,” business coach, speaker, and now author Christy Wright has put together a standout roadmap for success in her soon-to-be-released book, “Business Boutique: A Woman’s Guide for Making Money Doing What She Loves.” Donning the same name as […]

In one of the tensest moments in J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” Gollum is ready to eat Bilbo Baggins if he cannot answer this riddle correctly: Alive without breath,As cold as death;Never thirsty, ever drinking,All in mail but never clinking. There is something strange and mysterious about riddles in their very nature; reading one is like entering a maze in […]

In the classical traditions and history of every human culture, there was a belief in the divine and a deep reverence for it. This gave rise to poems or songs of praise, such as hymns, odes, and paeans. Today, praise of this kind is relatively uncommon outside of religions, but praise, celebration, and honor nonetheless […]

Haddon Hall, When David Invented Bowie, is a charming semi-fictional account of the late rock legend’s formative years in the form of a graphic novel.

A recent Publishers Weekly newsletter listed "10 Essential Books About the Immigrant Experience." None are about my kind of "immigrant experience," nor have they ever been.

Language that uses poetic meter, knowingly or unknowingly, is among the most powerful. Perhaps the most famous line in all of English literature is “To be or not to be, that is the question.” This line from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” falls almost perfectly into the iambic meter of one soft stress followed by one hard stress, depicted […]