Centuries after her death, Joan of Arc's miraculous life still captures the imagination of academics, artists, and activists. What, precisely, makes her so special?
Feelings
The author’s childhood visits to the Hare Krishna commune New Vrindaban evoke issue of identity, immigration, assimilation, and coming of age.
This excerpt from Kao Kalia Lang's memoir illuminates, through her particular experience as a Hmong refugee immigrating to the United states, some of the complicated ways we form our identity.
Zynga's popular games for Facebook leave some people totally confused. What is the appeal?
The author remembers growing up in grungy midtown, and striving to be "more Upper East Side" then her Upper East Side friends.
The author opines on the philosophy of protesting, and makes a case for philosopher's to concern themselves with social change.
A professor of applied mathematics discusses the elusive and exciting magic of numbers...using Sesame Street!
Learning to take and give a punch — a literal punch — in a boxing ring — can be an essential part of one’s spiritual development.
Freud did not have a lot of positive things to say about the field of philosophy. The author makes the case that he was, in fact, a philosopher himself.
The author, a filmmaker, reminisces about her year spent working at the famed Paris bookstore Shakespeare & Co., and getting to know its quirky owner, George Whitman.
It can be hard to understand why we bother talking about Philosophy, because it doesn't seem to relate to our day to day life. Here, Gary Cutting explains what makes it important, in and out of the classroom.
The author writes of growing up, disillusionment, and the romance of adolescence in this personal essay.
This is an unconventional obituary. Here, the author honors the life of Richard Holbrooke by describing some of his personal encounters with the legendary diplomat and public servant.
A witty and humorous piece about a mundane task— waiting in line at the post office.
In the second installment of Steven Strogatz's series on making math more interesting and approachable, we are introduced to the "playful side of arithmetic."
The author writes of loss, starting over, and other life changes in this personal essay about stoop sales.
Novelist Jami Attenberg discovered a bookshelf in a Brooklyn cafe could tell her quite a bit about herself.
Dennis Ritchie pioneered computer programming by making it accessible to all in his “The C Programming Language.” Herewith, a tribute to the deceased visionary.
A saxophonist and composer takes on a huge mission-- a twelve-part musical interpretation of the history of the African-American experience.
In light of two recent books about his life and work, a look at the legacy of Kurt Vonnegut.
What does our obsession with the past do for us in the present?
In France the ortolan is an endangered bird and a rare delicacy. What happens when the author gets an opportunity to try one?
College athletics is a multimillion dollar industry that places financial burdens on students and precipitates illegal recruiting practices, bribery, and unfair expectations of the student-athlete. How can we fix this system?
In this short, memoir-like piece, Jennifer Gilmore describes going to meet the woman she hopes to adopt from, and realizing, devastatingly, that it is not to be.
Todd Levin, a writer for Conan O’Brian, gives his humorous spin on what its’ like to move from New York to L.A.
With a mix of humor and brutal honesty, the author describes the unexpectedly fraught project of co- writing a book with her therapist.
Timothy Kudo returned from serving as a marine in Afghanistan this past Spring. Having some time to reflect on his days in combat, he is most troubled by the feeling that he did some evil things, and is responsible for his actions.
Amy Chua got a huge amount of attention for writing this memoir, in which she reveals her ideas and methods for parenting, which many find problematic. What do you think?
Lavanya Sunkara’s family did not know what to do about her chronic bed-wetting, which followed her from her childhood in India to her high-school years in New York City.
The author describes the joys of following College Basketball.
Our era is marked, among other things, by a pervasive anti-intellectual mood in politics. Here, the author explains why intellectualism is an important quality in a candidate.
The author served in the army for 8 years, but never saw combat. Here, she explores the guilt she feels over being a peacetime veteran in an era of war.
New York Magazine's art critic Jerry Saltz pays homage to the New York art gallery.
Joshua Cohen was living on Coney Island and attempting to write a novel. With no money and nothing to do besides write, he took to walking the old streets at night.
Her father was the kind of taxi driver with an impeccable cab who always knew where he was going. Hanna Rosin wonders if there are any left.
Music critic Nitsuh Abebe celebrates the resurgence of real pop music.
An excerpt from Ann Patchett’s ‘A State of Wonder,’ in this passage one character learns of another’s death.
Gabrielle Hamilton's memoir is one of the better chef memoirs out there. Here, she describes the moment when she decided she was going to open a restaurant.
This short profile of a New York discount-tire salesman waxes nostalgic about a bygone era.
This excerpt from Hillenbrand’s gripping true World War II tale introduces us to the protagonist, the mischievous, charming and fearless Louis Zampernini.
Robert K. Massie’s history of Catherine the Great is beautifully written, giving the reader a glimpse into what life was really like for the 18th century Empress. In this excerpt, we read of Catherine’s parents and the humble beginnings of one of history’s greatest women.
The Bosnian War was principally a conflict over territory, but in the process Muslims endured persecution and ethnic cleansing. In this piece, a family of Muslim survivors return to native Bosnia to confront their past.
In this light-hearted piece, the author examines why, as someone who moves around a lot, he has affinity for keeping so much “stuff.”
For many of us, Thanksgiving is a time to visit with family and old friends. Here, the author describes the turkey-lurkey bowl, a tradition he and his high school friends have kept alive for 13 years.
Like many things, there was a time when American culture was not excepting of gay couples, especially if those couples chose to have children. For author Benjamin Anastas, the experience of moving to suburbs with his lesbian parents in the early 80s was not easy.
The author, an American living in China, decides to try being an extra on a Chinese film and gives us a peek inside China’s burgeoning film industry.
Before the 1950s there were few known cases of multiple personality disorder, and patients with this disease displayed only two personalities. Then, in 1973, Flora Rheta Schreiber published a book about the patient Sybil who displayed no less than 16 different personalities through therapy. Tens of thousands of patients then emerged with this disorder, and some psychologists were reporting patients with as many as a hundred different personalities. What happens when we find out the Sybil’s story was completely fake, a misguided result of a patient trying to live up to the expectations of her therapist?
At time when the basketball season is on hold and the future of the NBA is in question, the author takes us back to glory days of the New York Knicks.
Children have figured into many of our society’s greatest works of fiction. Here, the author explores the significance of children as a literary device and asks what we can learn about ourselves from some great examples of children in literature.
In 1936, famed photographer Walked Evans published a portrait of 10-year-old Lucille Buroughs. This photo, which for many represents sharecropping society in depression-era America, became one of the most iconic American photographs from this or any period. What happened to Lucille?