Book Reviews

A richly reported new book offers powerful insights into the cooking habits—and daily struggles—of working-class Americans.

Since ancient times, border walls have simultaneously assuaged and stoked our fears of outsiders. But a history of walls can't tell the full story of civilization.

RJ Young's memoir recounts how he tried to endear himself to his white in-laws by learning how to shoot. Both love affairs eventually fell apart.

A new book argues that we can't overcome racism unless white people are willing to be a little uncomfortable.

A new book with an imperfect narrator demonstrates the benefits—and limits—of taking right-wing extremists at their word.

A new book argues that America uses digital tools to sequester and punish its poorest citizens. But can we really blame technology?

Political writer Liza Featherstone uses focus groups as a lens on the past, present, and future of the American project.

In her new book, journalist Jessica Bruder argues that, in post-2008 America, the nostalgic vision of RVs and other "wheel estate" is incomplete.

Hillary Clinton's new book about the 2016 election is harsh on misogyny but ignores the role of race and her own policies.

Andrea J. Ritchie's new book offers fresh perspective on how American law enforcement reserves particular abuse for black women.

In her new book, Vanessa Panfil offers a detailed and nuanced portrayal of homosexual life among gangs in Ohio.

James Forman Jr.'s first book chronicles with compassion how the actions of black leaders sometimes hurt the very people they sought to save.

Richard Rothstein's magisterial new book tracks how the government segregated America—and how new policy, and new education, could save us.

In his latest book, Chris Hayes urges white Americans to take black suffering seriously.

A new book traces the legal history of self-defense in America—and shows how laws for self-protection have been generally reserved for whites.

A meticulous new book examines the growing market for passports—and what that means for the way we think about citizenship and belonging.

If the problem isn’t straightforward racism or benighted drug laws, what is it?

Three new books explain why inequality isn't sending us to the barricades.

Men, for all Laura Kipnis’ attempts to appear transgressive, is a cautious and old-fashioned book that illustrates male privilege rather than denying it.

In politics, are we always just looking out for No. 1?

William Deresiewicz's new book, Excellent Sheep, is in part, he says, a letter to his younger, more privileged self.

Bipartisan urban loathing.

What you need to know about Bad Feminist, XL Love, and The Birth of Korean Cool.

An old American obsession—the rogue detective's urge to crack the case—finds a new outlet.