The Genre-Transcending Mastery of The Staircase
The true-crime tale lends itself to the fact-fiction danse macabre.
Volodymyr Zelensky and the Art of the War Story
Video dispatches from the Ukrainian president skillfully dissolve Putin’s delusions. We would all do well to listen.
The Intoxicating Pleasure of Conspiratorial Thinking
What a remorseful January 6 insurrectionist taught me about why we believe.
The Enduring Legacy of Clubhouse’s Chatty Revolution
The app’s buzz may have quieted down, but its spirit still animates the social internet.
The History—and Disturbing Resurrection—of Black Androids
When Elon Musk unveiled his idea for the Tesla bot, it evoked a racist phenomenon dating back to the 18th century.
Cow, Bull, and the Meaning of AI Essays
Essays can be marvelous and sublime; they can also be churned from content mills. Where does the AI-written variety fit?
In Praise of Unglamorous American Invention
Forget Blue Origin, Silicon Valley, and unicorns—small but mighty innovations are the true breakthroughs of human ingenuity.
The Future Is Bleak. Pondering Pangaea Gives Me Hope
In 200 million years, our far-flung continents may join up again. It reminds us of humans’ tiny place in this intergalactic drama.
When You’re Living in an Immaterial World, What’s for Sale?
On influencers, symbolic analysts, and buying and selling in the age of turbo-capitalism.