The Puzzle of the Written Word
In his new book, A Muse & A Maze: Writing as Puzzle, Mystery, and Magic, Peter Turchi explains the riddling experience of literature.
Cracking the Code of James Hampton’s Private Language
For years, scholars have been searching for meaning in the artist's preparation for the Second Coming of Christ. Perhaps the real purpose of the shrine lies not in his cryptic notes, but in our own sense of astonishment.
Understanding Money
In How to Speak Money, John Lanchester explains how the monied people talk about their mountains of cash.
A Murder Remembered
In her new book, Alice + Freda Forever: A Murder in Memphis, Alexis Coe takes a humanistic look at a forgotten 1892 crime.
The Book of Mormon, Without the Mormon Part
The Lost Book of Mormon makes a compelling case for including the religious text in the larger American literary canon, but somehow dances around a discussion of what the book actually means to Mormons.
Embracing Autumn in the Apple Orchard
Casey N. Cep goes apple picking and realizes the importance of putting winter out of mind.
How We Form Our Routines
Whether it's a morning cup of coffee or a glass of warm milk before bed, we all have our habitual processions. The way they become engrained, though, varies from person to person.
The End of Stars
Soon, some scientists say, we'll only be able to see the Milky Way in five different states.