Books
Introducing The Atlantic’s expanded books coverage: essays, criticism, fiction, poetry, and recommendations from our writers and editors
Is Anything Morally Obvious Anymore?
The public reaction to the violence in Minneapolis suggests that we have held on to our sense of universal truths.
The Ghosts of Toni Morrison
In her novels, she located the missing stories of Black America.
Matt Lauer’s Accuser Complicates Her Story
Brooke Nevils’s memoir is also a reckoning with many misconceptions about #MeToo narratives.
What Spielberg, Lucas, and Coppola Got Right
In revisiting the trio of auteurs who reinvented filmmaking in the 1970s, a new book shows that creativity thrives on collaboration.
Seven Books to Read When You Have No Time to Read
These titles are worth picking up, even if you have only a moment to spare.
Six Books You Can Get Lost In
These novels highlight the power—both good and bad—of unchecked fantasizing.
Five Books About Going Out That Are Worth Staying In For
If you don’t have the energy for New Year carousing, pick up these books instead.
The Best Poetry for Dark Winter Days
Each collection speaks to a different seasonal mood, but all are worth slowing down with before the new year.
Our culture editors’ weekly guide to the best in books.
The Ghosts of Toni Morrison
In her novels, she located the missing stories of Black America.
Is Anything Morally Obvious Anymore?
The public reaction to the violence in Minneapolis suggests that we have held on to our sense of universal truths.
The Fine Balance Required of an ‘Authorial Rant’
A cherished grudge might make it into a novel—but the best writers avoid creating books that feel one-sided.
Matt Lauer’s Accuser Complicates Her Story
Brooke Nevils’s memoir is also a reckoning with many misconceptions about #MeToo narratives.
What Spielberg, Lucas, and Coppola Got Right
In revisiting the trio of auteurs who reinvented filmmaking in the 1970s, a new book shows that creativity thrives on collaboration.
The Novel as Extended Op-Ed
If anyone could write good fiction about immigration, it would probably be Lionel Shriver. Instead, her latest book goes off the rails.
Deadlier Than Gettysburg
How the cruelty of the Confederacy’s prison camps gave rise to the rules of war