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The evolution of American anxieties, in words added to the dictionary since 1980The 1950s gave Americans “oral sex” and “hidden agenda”; in the 1960s they got “dirty laundry” and “ego trip.”
Updated July 20, 20222 min read
The 1950s gave Americans “oral sex” and “hidden agenda”; in the 1960s they got “dirty laundry” and “ego trip.”
In the United States, self-promotion is a bipartisan issue.
“I found the class really impactful.” “I have no bandwidth for this conversation.” “Can you ping me when you’re leaving the house?”
The home of America’s most beloved spider is up for sale.
Writing is not a sexy business. It’s not a rare butterfly that floats down and gently kisses you on the nose with a brilliant idea that conjures a hurricane of cash. It’s frustrating, and it’s lonely, and for most people, it doesn’t pay.
Judith Jones had a taste for what Americans wanted. The legendary cookbook editor died today in Vermont, at 93.
Read these aloud: Tomb, bomb, comb. Now: Wallet, mallet, chalet.
A titan of American criticism is stepping down. Michiko Kakutani, chief book critic of the New York Times, announced today that she’s retiring. She leaves behind a 38-year legacy at the Times, one of obsessive reading, deep political engagement, and acerbic writing.
During its imperial heyday, when England found itself fighting pretty much everyone in Europe, haughty digs toward other nations pervaded everyday language. And today a handful of casual culture-bashing remains embedded in the English spoken by people all around the world.
A new book has thrust the heavily scrutinized last moments of Nelson Mandela’s life back into the spotlight.
The crude rainbows and stick figures of early personal computing will soon be forgotten.
Picture your last name written in all caps. Now imagine one letter in the middle is in lowercase. Now imagine this is the only way for you to write your name, that shrunken middle letter dwarfed by its neighbors. All your legal documents glare at you:
For 27 years, Steve Whitmire’s livelihood was being Kermit the Frog. Now, at age 58, the puppeteer is out of a job.
After three and a half years at the top of the US’s law enforcement food chain, James Comey has a few stories to tell.
Punctuation already causes English-speakers enough headaches. Imagine being criticized for the way you draw them, too.
For a long time I’ve been reading one book. It’s been five years since I started In Search of Lost Time, and I’m only two-thirds the way through.
This story contains spoilers for the short story “17776.”
The man who spread monstrous, magical nighttime adventures to millions is about to embark on one of his own. Maurice Sendak, author of Where the Wild Things Are, is going to publish a book from the grave.
This story contains spoilers for the HBO TV series Game of Thrones.
Nosy Floridians now have another outlet for their moral outrage. Now anybody in the US state can formally complain about books used in public schools, and schools are required to hear them out.
For decades one of England’s most iconic characters has been a very polite bear from Peru. Michael Bond, the creator of the beloved immigrant bear, Paddington, died yesterday.
Milo Yiannopoulos doesn’t care. He doesn’t care that the mainstream media hates him, that the alt-right hates him, that feminists hate him. He’s so over it that he’s written 250 pages devoted entirely to the various parties who vilify him.
Let’s do a quick exercise. Are you ready? Draw a circle in the box below. Don’t think too hard!
The oldest, richest wizarding families have nothing on the muggle who made them.