Issue of April 27, 2009

Yankees For Sale
Opening Day glitz at the new Yankee Stadium.
by Ben McGrath

Exit Lawyers
Philip Howard and the new American accountability.
by John Seabrook

Motherlode
A book honoring mom wit.
by Lauren Collins

The Bells
Harvard and a Russian legacy.
by Elif Batuman

Audio: Elif Batuman talks about the return of Harvard’s bells to Russia.

Brain Gain
The neuroenhancer revolution.
by Margaret Talbot

The Road Ahead
Is there hope for the American car industry?
by Peter J. Boyer

The life of Edgar Allan Poe.
by Jill Lepore

“The Soloist,” “State of Play.”
by David Denby

Issue of April 20, 2009

The Comeback
March Madness in Cobble Hill.
by Robert Sullivan

A Roosevelt Reading List
A First Lady’s bedside reading.
by Rebecca Mead

The Tweets of Roland Hedley
Doonesbury’s Fox News correspondent tweets from the G-20.
by Garry Trudeau

Hanging Tough
How should companies behave in recessions?
by James Surowiecki

Guy Walks into a Bar Car
Lost loves and lost years.
by David Sedaris

Roughing It
What two young women found in the Rockies.
by Dorothy Wickenden

Audio Slide Show: Dorothy Wickenden discusses her grandmother, a schoolteacher in the Rocky Mountains.

Swamp Things
Florida’s uninvited predators.
by Burkhard Bilger

Audio: Burkhard Bilger discusses Florida’s snake problem.

How Katherine Anne Porter perfected herself.
by Hilton Als

“Anvil! The Story of Anvil.”
by Anthony Lane

Issue of April 13, 2009

All Together Now
Paul and Ringo remember their mantras.
by Nancy Franklin

Q. If you were Nancy Franklin could you maintain her reserve in this situation?

Mi Chiamo Stan
by Ian Frazier

Q. Is this funny or mean? Why? Would it still be funny without the translations? Is there a seed of truth? Is the original advertisement sincere or satirical?

I.O.U.
The American way of debt.
by Jill Lepore

Q. Is this more informational or entertaining? Do you agree with Lepore's assessment of moral vs. market economy and it's consequences? Are there dangers common or unique to each?

A Fine Rage
George Orwell’s revolutions.
by James Wood

Q. What does Orwell get right? get wrong? What more do we learn about him?

Media moguls then and now.
by Nicholas Lemann

Q. Do today's moguls have the power of yesterday's version? Did competition make a better product? Still?

Marian Anderson’s complex legacy.
by Alex Ross

Q. Are there any surprising facts to be discovered here? What can we tell about the author from his sentences about his subject?

Issue of April 6, 2009

Primary Sources
Musicologists at the opening of Moisés Kaufman’s “33 Variations.”
by Michael Schulman

Q. Why do you care or not care about this story? Is it the content or the telling? What's your theory on Beethoven's motivation for 33 variations?

Cash for Keys
A one-man foreclosure bonanza.
by Tad Friend

Q. What do we learn about foreclosure? What are Nordine's qualities? shortcomings? demons?

Couplet
The literary brotherhood of twin poets.
by Rebecca Mead

Q. Are these typical twin brothers? Do you like their poetry? Their personality? Do you think they are successful? Their mother?

Message in a Bottle
An adventurer takes on the plastic problem.
by John Colapinto

Video: David de Rothschild discusses his recycled-plastics boat.

Q. Is de Rothschild a sincere philanthropist? a megalomaniac? a fool? Is "crusader" apropos?

Works from the Norton Simon collection.
by Peter Schjeldahl

Audio: Peter Schjeldahl on the emotional power of painting.

Q. Does the writer tell us more about art history or understanding these particular works? Can you relate?

“Monsters vs. Aliens,” “Shall We Kiss?”
by Anthony Lane

Q. Spot all of AL's zingers. If you've seen the films, do you agree with him? If not, would you see them based on this piece? Is it a review or an essay about film?