What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever used as a bookmark? A feather? A candy wrapper? An old photograph of a man’s rear end? (The latter is not just idle conjecture;… Read more »

“The Simpsons head to a series of bookstores.” It’s hard to believe this quote comes from a negative review of a recent episode of The Simpsons. After all, these are some… Read more »

When in the course of human events it becomes necessary to identify our most ridiculous citizens, it’ll be easy: just look for the people so hellbent on freedom that they… Read more »

For one thing, they don’t let the market go out of control. They think that the market is a useful and flexible instrument, as long as it’s supervised in such a… Read more »

The New York Public Library has just released high-resolution versions of its massive collection of public domain images, all completely free of charge. Under the aegis of the library’s Public… Read more »

Perhaps the most ubiquitous and influential writer in the history of the English language is getting a roadshow. In celebration of the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s birth this year,… Read more »

James Patterson is playing Ol’ Saint Nick this year. The bestselling author, who is known for his philanthropic support for literacy and reading initiatives, has awarded holiday bonuses totaling $250,000 to… Read more »

After a 30 year career that has allowed her to interview politicians, presidents, and cultural icons, public radio host Diane Rehm has announced that she’ll be retiring from her eponymous… Read more »

Author J.K. Rowling, creator of Rubeus Hagrid and the Floo Network, has been working on the screenplay for a spinoff from the world of Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts and Where… Read more »

This year marks the seventieth anniversary of The Railway Series, which was, as far as I know, the first series of books to bring anthropomorphic trains to an English-speaking audience.… Read more »