The Genius of Handel’s Messiah
The oratorio is a feat of sustained inspiration arguably unsurpassed in the canon of Western classical music.
Book Review
Why Randy Newman Is Least Loved for His Best Work
The musician’s greatest songs are dramatic, psychologically complex, and often very bleak.
A Radical Vision of the Sick Body
A Nobel Prize–winning author and her ex-lover explore the surprising vitality of a grave illness.
Scent of a Man
In a new memoir, Al Pacino promises to reveal the person behind the actor. But is he holding something back?
Alan Hollinghurst’s Lost England
In his new novel, the present isn’t much better than the past—and it’s a lot less sexy.
You Are Going to Die
Oliver Burkeman has become an unlikely self-help guru by reminding everyone of their mortality.
The Enlightenment Is Just One Side of the Story
In her latest novel, Olga Tokarczuk champions a world governed by myth, not reason.
Malcolm Gladwell, Meet Mark Zuckerberg
The writer’s insistence on ignoring the web is an even bigger blind spot today than it was when The Tipping Point came out.
The Anti–Rock Star
Leonard Cohen’s battle against shameless male egoism
Yuval Noah Harari’s Apocalyptic Vision
His warning of AI’s dangers is alarming, but does it help us avoid them?